China will retaliate “tit-for-tat” if President-elect Donald Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE seeks to start a trade war, according to the Chinese Communist party-controlled newspaper, The Global Times.

In an op-ed reported on by The Guardian, the paper called Trump’s promise to impose a 45 percent tariff on Chinese imports “campaign rhetoric,” but said that if the president-elect were to impose significant tariffs on Chinese goods, that China would fight back.

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“A batch of Boeing orders will be replaced by Airbus,” the Global Times wrote. “US auto and iPhone sales in China will suffer a setback, and US soybean and maize imports will be halted.”

The editorial was published shortly after Trump’s Sunday night phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"President-elect Trump stated that he believes the two leaders will have one of the strongest relationships for both countries moving forward," read a statement on the phone call from Trump’s transition team.

The paper recalled China’s response to President Obama’s past trade dealings with the country.

“Not long after Barack Obama Barack Hussein ObamaMichelle Obama and Jennifer Lopez exchange Ginsburg memories Pence defends Trump's 'obligation' to nominate new Supreme Court justice The militia menace MORE took office, US trade and commerce authorities announced a 35 percent import tariff on Chinese tires,” the editorial read. “In response, China took retaliatory steps of imposing tariffs on US chicken and automotive products.”

“Trump as a shrewd businessman will not be so naïve. None of the previous presidents were bold enough to launch an all-out trade war against China,” the Global Times wrote.

“Trump cannot change the pattern of interests between China and the US. Even as president, Trump can exert limited influence on it.”