Beijing will "take all necessary measures to resolutely defend its legitimate rights and interests," a Ministry of Commerce statement released Thursday said.
On Thursday, the Trump administration announced upwards of $60 billion in new tariffs on Chinese goods, promising to draw up a complete list of the goods to be affected within 15 days. Washington introduced the measures in response to what it said were Chinese gains "received through…unfair practices." The new measures will complement the recently announced tariffs against Chinese steel and aluminum imports.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Chinese measures are set to target US agricultural exports, specifically soybeans, grain sorghum and live pigs.
China currently imports about a third of the US' total soybean production and its response to the US measures could do major harm to Trump's electoral base in rural areas, the paper says.
Other measures taken by Beijing may include cancelling large orders of US aircraft and other industrial production.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce laid out its plans for retaliation at a meeting last month with Chinese importers of US goods, including state-owned food-processing giant China National Cereals, Oils & Foodstuffs Corp. Chinese companies have since been searching for alternative sources for these products from countries including Brazil, Argentina and Poland.