'US will be hit by high tariffs'

US tariffs will inflict significant harm on the US economy as other countries hit back with "high tariffs" on American goods, Chinese state media warned, leaving the door open for more measures by Beijing as another wave of levies looms.

Barely two months after returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has triggered trade conflicts with China, Canada, Mexico and the European Union. Trump is also threatening reciprocal tariffs on every country that taxes US imports, with those levies potentially kicking in on April 2.

China swiftly responded with countermeasures in February and March when two rounds of Trump tariffs took effect. And Beijing is widely expected to quickly react to the April tariffs should they come to pass.

"In response to US tariffs, its trading partners will not sit idly by," the nationalist Chinese tabloid Global Times wrote in an editorial on Tuesday.

"Retaliating with high tariffs on US exports could become an option for many countries."