China Could Target U.S. Firms if Trump Levies Tariffs, Group Warns<br />BEIJING — Chinese officials have warned that they will retaliate against American companies if President Trump imposes tariffs<br />on China, an American business group said on Tuesday, with airplanes and agricultural products among the likely targets.<br />Chinese officials have told American business representatives<br />that they are prepared to push back, said William Zarit, the chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China.<br />“From the Chinese government’s perspective, I think it would be likely<br />that it would target sectors that have political resonance in the United States,” he said.<br />China could also consider initiating antidumping investigations of American imports of other products, contending<br />that they are sold below their fair value and subsidized by the United States, Mr. Ross said.<br />“And the producers are predominantly in states which voted for President Trump.”<br />He noted that Boeing, the aircraft maker, would be “another obvious example” of a company<br />that could be in Beijing’s cross-hairs if the Trump administration imposes trade sanctions against China.<br />Chinese officials were not specific on what form of retaliation Beijing would take, Mr. Zarit said.<br />If China does strike back, the two biggest likely targets would be the agriculture<br />and aircraft industries, said Lester Ross, chairman of AmCham China’s policy committee.
