China: Blaming Xi for US trade war is ‘shocking’

China on Wednesday said it was “shocking” for a U.S. official to blame Chinese President Xi Jinping for escalating trade tensions between the two countries.

Larry Kudlow, President Trump’s top economic adviser, on Wednesday said Jinping is holding up a trade deal that would ease tensions between the two countries. 

“That the relevant United States official unexpectedly distorted the facts and made bogus accusations is shocking and beyond imagination,” China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Thursday when asked about Kudlow’s comments.

The U.S. this month slapped tariffs on $34 billion of Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to respond with retaliatory tariffs of the same amount. 

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President Trump then proposed 10 percent tariffs on a list of $200 billion in Chinese products, which China responded to by filing a challenge with the World Trade Organization.

Trump has said the tariffs are an effort to protect American workers from unfair Chinese technology and trade practices, though experts have warned they could harm the U.S. economy.  

Kudlow on Wednesday implied Jinping is refusing to heed Trump’s calls to alter China’s technology transfer and other trade policies. 

“We are waiting for [Jinping],” Kudlow said. “The ball is in his court.”

Trump this month also leveraged steep tariffs against historic U.S. allies including the European Union and Canada, as well as Mexico. 

Critics have said the escalating trade war could harm U.S. workers and businesses. Some businesses have even announced plans to move their operations overseas in anticipation of financial losses. 

China has said they are “fully prepared” for a trade war with the U.S.