Hardline advisers are urging President Donald Trump to crank up the pressure yet again in his escalating trade war with China by slapping big tariffs on up to $200 billion worth of imports.

China vowed Wednesday not to give in to 'blackmail,' saying it would respond in kind of Trump pushes ahead.

The moves come after Trump inveighed against 'not nice' China for its retaliation and for its trade policies, which he described as exploitive and even punitive.

'China and others have targeted our farmers,' told a rally with supporters in Tampa.

'Not good. Not nice. And you know what our farmers are saying? 'It's OK. We can take it,' Trump said.

President Trump fired the first round in the trade war with China when he slapped tariffs on steel and aluminum, but China responded with its own retaliatory tariffs

China is already saying it won't bend to 'blackmail' and vowing 'countermeasures'

'The days of plundering American jobs and American wealth, those days are over,' Trump said.

The pressure from China hawks within the administration comes after the two sides have traded fire on tariffs with escalating rhetoric and retaliatory taxes, with talks yet to reach a breakthrough.

The administration has already taken steps to impose tariffs of 25 per cent on $50 billion of Chinese products.

China unleashed retaliatory tariffs targeting U.S. agricultural products, poking Trump in the heart of his political base in conservative farm states.

The $45 billion in tariffs have already had the effect of lowing soybean prices – potentially endangering Republicans in the midterm elections if those feeling the brunt reject Trump's trade policies.

Now, advisers are pushing Trump to impose 25 per cent tariffs on an additional $200 million of Chinese goods ranging from consumer products to machinery, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Trump kicked off the trade war by imposing a 25 per cent tariff on Chinese steel and a 10 per cent tariff on aluminum.

Trump kicked off the trade war by imposing a 25 per cent tariff on Chinese steel

There was also a 10 per cent tariff on aluminum imports like what goes into these beer bottles

Bloomberg initially reported that Trump wants told U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer to boost the tariff.

Trump saluted the steel industry at a rally in Tampa Tuesday night and touted a steel plant slated to get built in the state.

Tariffs the Trump administration imposed in July already hit U.S. consumer products from aluminum and steel to car tires, beauty products, and dog food, CNBC reported. Tilapia and light bulbs are among products that would get hit under expanded tariffs.

U.S. consumers would bear much of the burden in the form of higher prices unless companies decide to eat the difference.

China is already telegraphing a new round of countermeasures if the U.S. acts.

Everything from China, from light bulbs to tilapia, could be hit if Trump raises tariff levels

'U.S. pressure and blackmail won't have an effect. If the United States takes further escalatory steps, China will inevitably take countermeasures and we will resolutely protect our legitimate rights,' said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang.

He added: 'Unilateral threats and pressure will only produce the opposite of the desired result.'

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has been in talks with a high-level Chinese official to try to resolve the issue, but so far without success.

The trade war began when the Trump administration slapped tariffs on an initial $34 billion in Chinese products. Trump has complained repeatedly about China's currency policy, theft of U.S. intellectual property, and the U.S. trade deficit with China.

Trump has also threatened to impose tariffs on all $500 billion of annual U.S. imports from China.