Beijing is expected to target US goods including soybeans, light aircraft and whiskey after Washington took its own measures.
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| Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are in a standoff over trade |
Beijing said it would be "forced to make a necessary counterattack" after US tariffs on $34bn (£25.6bn) of Chinese goods came into effect.
The 25% duties apply to Chinese machinery, electronics and other hi-tech equipment including cars, computer hard drives and LEDs.
Tariffs on an additional $16bn (£12.1bn) of Chinese goods are set to take effect in two weeks, Mr Trump has said.
The US is prepared to target up to $500bn (£377.8bn) more, he has warned, unless Beijing yields to Washington's demands.
Mr Trump's administration contends that China has deployed predatory tactics to try to overtake US technological dominance.
These allegedly include requiring US companies to hand over technology in exchange for access to China's market.
China's Commerce Ministry said it would be "forced to make a necessary counter-attack".
While it gave no immediate details, China previously released a list of US goods it might potentially target including soybeans, light aircraft, orange juice and whiskey.
The China Daily newspaper accused the Trump administration of "behaving like a gang of hoodlums".
"There should be no doubting Beijing's resolve," it added.
The American Chamber of Commerce in China said US companies wanted fairer treatment but would be hurt by US-Chinese tensions.
Its chairman, William Zarit, said: "There are no winners in a trade war.
"We urge the two governments to come back to the negotiation table."
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| The tariffs escalate a trade war between the US and its biggest trading partner |
It may be some time before the effect of the tariffs is clear.
"It will take three, six or 12 months before their impact becomes visible," Tokyo branch manager for State Street Bank and Trust, Bart Wakabayashi, said.
Co-head of Asia economic research at HSBC in Hong Kong, Frederic Neumann, said he was "fairly relaxed" about the tariffs and trade dispute.
"I don't think it's as disruptive as often described," he added.
"China's position is strong enough to avoid a hard landing in the current scenario."
The most important aspect may be how long the situation continues.
"When economists run various economic models, they get estimates that it will slash US GDP only by 0.1%," said Kozo Koide, chief economist in Tokyo for Asset Management One.
"That would be true if tariffs would be imposed only for a year," he added.
"But you don't know how long this will continue.
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