China promises retaliation if U.S. imposes more tariffs

If/when China puts up more barriers to US companies in China, that will play right into Trump's point about unfair trade.

cut off the South China Sea and crash the US stock market. so easy.

This is all have to do with the Section 301 tariffs. This approach is not exactly a secret but most of the financial media are feeble-minded about the bigger picture of this economic stratagem where CCP's connection to current ongoing negotiations with Kim Jong. I digress.

The proffered tariffs are supporting action to counter China’s unjustifiable trade engagements connected to intellectual property, innovation and technology transposition based on the research results of Lighthizer's investigation of China under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act.

The issue is not "if" POTUS will apply the Section 301 tariffs, but instead of "how" and "when"?

Trump is the only one that knows the answer to that because everything about the bigger picture blueprint is only known by the person making the final critical decisions.

The intentions are apparent: create a leverage have a better equitable, fairer, and more reciprocal trade arrangement with Chairman Xi. As a byproduct, it establishes regional/national security for S.E. Asia with a stable, denuclearized Korean peninsula.

Section 301-tariffs is essentially a negotiating tool to create leverage, nothing more. POTUS is ensuing a very logical progression with multiple coinciding actions. Finalize the N. American trade bloc using Mex-Merica conditions (optionally with Canada); then hone in on the European Union trade components, probably having a bilateral compromise with U.K. simultaneously; then finally shift to Asia and deal with China specifically.

POTUS advancing trade/economic docket has collective fronts all quarterbacked by Trump and negotiation all-star teams composing of Wilbur Ross - Secretary of Commerce; Steven Mnuchin - Secretary of Treasury; Robert Lighthizer - Trade Representative; with consultations and guidance from Larry Kudlow - Director of NEC and Peter Navarro - Trade Advisor

Each members have a specific regional role to play for strategizing, analyzing as well as critical evaluating of economic/trade elements. However, the bigger picture and longer term horizon of the direction of the team's objective is coordinated by none other than, Trump himself.

Retaliation by definition means that a US tariff is negatively affecting China and therefore they must act negatively to counteract that situation. But then that is exactly what a tariff does, affect the other side negatively. It is how, when, where and for what purpose an reason they are used that makes a difference for the country that places tariffs. As UnknownPlayer above states, any reaction or retaliation by those affected. in this case China, is a reflection of their inability to cope with or unwillingness to change their ways to make things mutually acceptable.

As to how that affects one's economy, it takes time for the changes to occur and the effects felt.

The U.S. is in ( has been for quite some time ) an economic war with China and has been losing. Trump's going to make sure the U.S. doesn't continue to lose.

Oh my...

The Left Tries to Ridicule Trumps' Economic Policies... lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smsgX3ZHmtY