*BEIJING – China will hit back hard against the new US taxes on Chinesegoods in an escalating trade war.*

*China will not only play defence in an escalating trade war with theUnited States, a widely read Chinese tabloid warned, as President DonaldTrump was expected to announce new tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goodsas early as Monday.*

Beijing may also decline to participate in proposed trade talks withWashington later this month if the Trump administration goes ahead with theadditional tariffs, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citingChinese officials.

The Journal report quoted one senior Chinese advisory official saying Chinawould not negotiate “with a gun pointed to its head.”

The United States and China have already levied duties on $50 billion worthof each other’s goods in an intensifying row that has jolted globalfinancial markets in the past few months.

Last week, the world’s two biggest economies appeared to be making progresson the trade snag after the U.S. Treasury Department invited senior Chineseofficials including Vice Premier Liu He for more talks.