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Expressions of patriotic, anti-US sentiment have emerged among the Chinese public, including vows to stop selling American products, charge American customers higher prices and the widespread circulation of a song condemning US tariffs.
This week many Chinese business owners have displayed these kinds of messages online, including claims that they would charge a service fee equivalent to the percentage of the tariffs on Chinese goods.
“We will charge an additional 104 per cent service fee to American customers from today. If you have any questions, please consult the US embassy,” said a notice displayed outside a barbecue beef shop in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province in central China, before US President Donald Trump further hiked tariffs on Chinese goods.
While similar messages are displayed in other restaurants, bars, billiard rooms and jewellery shops, they are prompting mixed responses from Chinese internet users.
The strong sentiments come amid the escalating tit-for-tat tariffs that are driving the US-China trade war to new heights.
Beijing’s media arm has kept up its defiant language reaffirming a willingness to “strike back”.