Beijing has said it will respond in kind if President Trump imposes higher tariffs on Chinese exports on Friday.
The Chinese Commerce Ministry said that if the US tariff measures are implemented, it would take “necessary countermeasures”.
The warning comes as US and Chinese officials prepare to meet over the next two days.
On Wednesday President Trump tweeted that Vice Premier Liu He “is now coming to the U.S. to make a deal. We’ll see.”
On Sunday Mr Trump said on Twitter the US would more than double tariffs on $200bn (£152bn) of Chinese goods on Friday and could introduce fresh tariffs.
US trade representative Robert Lighthizer later accused China of backtracking on commitments in trade talks.
However, he insisted a deal with Beijing was still possible.
The US stock market is down over 2% since Sunday but did not react to the comments on Wednesday from China.
The Chinese Commerce Ministry said in its statement: “The escalation of trade friction is not in the interests of the people of the two countries and the people of the world.
“The Chinese side deeply regrets that if the US tariff measures are implemented, China will have to take necessary countermeasures.”
Mr Trump’s claim that Beijing is looking to strike a trade agreement followed an earlier tweet, in which he claimed to know why China had reneged on its promises.
He said that if a Democrat was elected in the 2020 US presidential election, Beijing hoped the new administration would take a softer line on trade.
Source-BBC
