US President Donald Trump has said China “broke the deal” in trade talks, ramping up hostilities ahead of negotiations between the two sides.
The comments came as Beijing said it would retaliate with “necessary countermeasures” if the US raises tariffs on Chinese products.
Mr. Trump has vowed to more than double tariffs on $200bn (£152bn) of Chinese goods on Friday.
Despite that, the two sides are due to hold trade talks in the US on Thursday.
Ahead of the discussions, Mr. Trump accused China’s leaders of breaking the deal the US was negotiating on trade.
They broke the deal… They can’t do that. So they’ll be paying,” Mr Trump told supporters at a campaign rally in Florida.
He said if the two sides do not make a deal, there was “nothing wrong with taking in more than $100bn a year”.
Mr. Lighthizer released an official notice on Wednesday stating that duty rates on a vast array of Chinese-made electrical equipment, machinery, car parts and furniture would jump to 25% on Friday.
Tariffs on $200bn of Chinese goods were supposed to rise to 25% from 10% at the start of the year but that was postponed as negotiations advanced.
If they go ahead, the Chinese have said they will retaliate in kind.
“The escalation of trade friction is not in the interests of the people of the two countries and the people of the world,” the Chinese Commerce Ministry said in a statement.
“The Chinese side deeply regrets that if the US tariff measures are implemented, China will have to take necessary countermeasures.”
