China prepares to counter any US trade penalties

Beijing

CHINA'S government has been seeking advice from its think-tanks and policy advisers on how to counter potential trade penalties from US President Donald Trump, getting ready for the worst, even as they hope for business-like negotiations.

The policy advisers believe the Trump administration is most likely to impose higher tariffs on targeted sectors where China has a big surplus with the United States, such as steel and furniture, or on state-owned firms.