“Additional 15% tariffs will be imposed on chicken, wheat, corn and cotton,” Beijing’s finance ministry said in a statement.

“An additional 10% tariffs will be imposed on sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, aquatic products, fruits, vegetables and dairy products,” it added.

US President Donald Trump inked an order yesterday to increase a previously imposed 10% tariff on China to 20% piling atop existing levies on various Chinese goods.

Beijing in announcing its levies condemned the “unilateral imposition of tariffs by the US”.

The move “exacerbates the burden on US companies and consumers, and undermines the foundation of economic and trade cooperation between China and the US,” the finance ministry said.

Beijing’s commerce ministry also said it would file a lawsuit at the World Trade Organization over the additional 10% tariffs.