"21st Century Barbarian": China Accuses US of Economic Aggression Over Trump Tariffs"

 China's statements on its trade war with the United States have become increasingly hostile.

It took a new turn on Thursday after Beijing's foreign ministry said the Donald Trump administration's tariffs have made the US a "barbarian of the 21st century".

The ministry of foreign affairs spokesperson, Huang Jingrui, writing in an open letter in the South China Morning Post, insisted that Trump's tariffs will "never make America great again".

Jingrui also claimed that America is obsessed with bullying and blackmailing the rest of the world.

“A tariff-wielding barbarian who attempts to force countries to call and beg for mercy can never expect that call from China,” Huang said.

He added that the US is “obsessed with the art of bullying and blackmailing the entire world.”

China's 84% tariff on all goods from the United States came into effect on Thursday.

The move is set to escalate a trade war with Washington, while calling for a dialogue “on the basis of mutual respect and equality”.

This new rate took effect at 12:01am Eastern Time [04:00 GMT] on Thursday, according to China's State Administration Council.