Chinese media have mocked US President Donald Trump over plans to impose 25% tariffs on $50bn value of Chinese items, saying "wise men build bridges but fools build walls".
Mr Trump introduced the tariffs on Friday, accusing Beijing of mental copyright theft.
China retaliated, saying it could impose an extra 25% tariff on 659 US items value $50bn.
Stock markets fell after the bulletins amid worry of a commerce conflict.
The United States had earlier warned that it's going to impose much more tariffs ought to China retaliate.
Mr Trump stated the tariffs have been "essential to preventing further unfair transfers of American technology and intellectual property to China, which will protect American jobs."
The Chinese product traces which have been hit vary from plane tyres to generators and industrial dishwashers.
State-controlled media made a concerted assault on the brand new US measures.
"Following the path of expanding and opening up is China's best response to the trade dispute between China and the United States, and is also the responsibility that major countries should have to the world," stated an editorial in Xinhua information company.
"The wise man builds bridges, the fool builds walls," it commented.
Social media customers have been fast to make mild of the remark, with many making reference to the Great Wall of China.
Elsewhere official Communist Party newspaper the People's Daily condemned what it described because the United States administration's "obsession with playing the disgraceful role of global economic disruptor".
The Global Times, in the meantime, stated Mr Trump was disrupting the world order to enchantment to voters who suppose he is combating for them.
However, the English-language China Daily stated it hoped the worst may nonetheless be prevented.
"Given the frequent flip-flopping of the Donald Trump administration, it is still too early to conclude that a trade war will start," it stated.
The media response got here as China introduced tariffs on $34bn of US items together with agricultural merchandise, vehicles and marine merchandise which will even take impact from 6 July.
Tariffs on different US items might be introduced at a later date, Xinhua stated.
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US tariffs that have an effect on greater than 800 Chinese merchandise value $34bn in annual commerce are resulting from come into impact on 6 July.
The White House stated it could seek the advice of on tariffs on the opposite $16bn of merchandise, and would apply these later.
The United States desires China to cease practices that allegedly encourage switch of mental propertydesign and product conceptsto Chinese firms, reminiscent of necessities that international companies share possession with native companions to entry the Chinese market.
However, many economists and companies within the United States say the tariffs are prone to damage among the sectors the administration is attempting to guard, which rely upon China for elements or meeting.
The United States introduced plans for tariffs this spring, after an investigation into China's mental property practices.
It revealed a draft record of about 1,300 Chinese merchandise slated for tariffs in April. The record launched on Friday is barely shorter, incorporating suggestions and criticism obtained within the ensuing weeks.
The plans have elicited a combined political response, drawing reward from Democrats and opposition from Republicans, who sometimes favour free commerce insurance policies.