White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said Sunday that President Trump Donald John TrumpBubba Wallace to be driver of Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin NASCAR team Graham: GOP will confirm Trump's Supreme Court nominee before the election Southwest Airlines, unions call for six-month extension of government aid MORE isn’t bluffing in his threats to impose tariffs against China.

“The whole world knows China has been violating trade laws for many years. And President Trump is the guy calling them on it and he’s right to do so,” Kudlow told “Fox News Sunday.”

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“He’s not bluffing. I mean, there are a number of tools at his disposal,” he added.

Kudlow’s remarks come amid increased tensions between China and the United States over trade.

The Trump administration said last week that it planned to enact tariffs on about $50 billion worth of Chinese imports. China responded with its own $50 billion tariff package aimed at U.S. goods including automobiles.

China one week ago announced another tariff package targeting U.S. pork and fruit in response to Trump's decision to raise duties on imported steel and aluminum.

Kudlow echoed the president on Sunday, dismissing the notion that the threat of tariffs amount to a potential trade war.

“This is a problem caused by China, not a problem caused by President Trump,” he said.

Kudlow said in a separate interview on CNN's "State of the Union" that Trump "had to go in and fire a shot across the bow."

"China’s behavior … it’s more than unfair trading practices. It’s illegal trading practices,” he said.

“No president has had the backbone to take it up publicly before.”

— This report was updated at 9:30 a.m.