China hits back at US with levies as Trump tariffs come in force [Video]

China said Tuesday it would impose tariffs of 15 percent on imports of coal and liquefied natural gas from the United States, in retaliation for Washington’s 10 percent levies on Chinese goods.

Beijing’s finance ministry also unveiled 10 percent tariffs on imports from the United States of crude oil, agricultural machinery, large-displacement vehicles and pickup trucks.

The new measures were in response to the “unilateral tariff hike” by Washington over the weekend, Beijing said.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced sweeping measures against major trade partners including Canada and Mexico, with goods from China facing an additional 10 percent tariff on top of the duties they already endure.

Trump said the measures aimed to punish countries for failing to halt flows of illegal migrants and drugs including fentanyl into the United States.

The US move, China said, “seriously violates World Trade Organization rules, does nothing to resolve its own …