China has American agricultural exports in its cross hairs as it prepares countermeasures against fresh U.S. import tariffs, China's state-backed Global Times reported, raising the stakes in an escalating trade war between the world's top two economies.

China is considering retaliatory measures on US agriculture and food products in response to tariffs from the Trump administration that are scheduled to take effect on Tuesday, according to the Global Times.

China is reportedly preparing countermeasures against fresh U.S. import tariffs that are set to take effect on March 4, with American agricultural exports likely to be targeted. “China is studying and formulating relevant countermeasures in response to the U.