China on Wednesday said it was ready to negotiate, but would not back down in a trade war with the US.
The comments from the Chinese Foreign Ministry come a day after Donald Trump said "the ball is in China's court" as Washington looks to pressure Beijing into negotiating a trade deal.
"If the US really wants to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiation, it should stop exerting extreme pressure, stop threatening and blackmailing, and talk to China on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.
"This tariff war was initiated by the US side... China does not want a fight, but it is not afraid of one either," Lin added during a daily press conference.
The Trump administration has imposed a 145% tariff on all goods from China, although small electronics have since been exempted. China has responded with a 125% tariffs on all US goods.
