Hours after U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order imposing a tax on Chinese products took effect, China announced a retaliatory tariff hike on American products.

Mr Trump’s 10 per cent tax on Chinese products in a bid to tackle fentanyl trafficking into the U.S. came into effect at 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday. 

In a statement on Tuesday, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced a retaliatory tax on U.S. products, saying, “The U.S.’s unilateral imposition of tariffs seriously violates the rules of the World Trade Organisation.”

According to the statement, China’s tariffs on products originating from the U.S. will take effect on Monday. 

By Monday, China will begin imposing a 15 per cent import tax on coal and liquefied natural gas and another 10 per cent tax on crude oil, farm machinery, cars, pick-up trucks and other products from the U.S.

The statement added, “It is not only unhelpful in solving its own problems, but also undermines the normal economic and trade cooperation between China and the U.S.”

The trade war ignited by Mr Trump’s tariff imposed on Chinese products and the retaliation by China could hurt both countries and disrupt global commerce.