‘Shocked’ by Latest U.S. Tariff Plan, Beijing Seeks Retaliatory Action

China can’t match Washington’s new tariffs as it has in previous rounds, so it is reviewing plans to hit back in other ways

China has pledged to retaliate against U.S. tariffs in “equal scale and equal strength.” In addition to tariffs, here are three ways Beijing could hit back at Washington. Photo: Getty Images

BEIJING—The U.S.’s plan to wallop China with new tariffs is putting Beijing in a bind, forcing it to retaliate in ways likely to cast doubt on its commitment to rules-based global trade.

The Trump administration’s announcement that it plans to clamp 10% tariffs on a further $200 billion in Chinese goods—from tech gear like routers to furniture and handbags—stoked anger and hand-wringing among Chinese officials on Wednesday. China doesn’t import enough from the U.S. to match Washington dollar for dollar as it has in previous...