China¡¯s measured response to the U.S. move to hike tariffs on $18 billion of Chinese goods ranging from syringes to batteries suggests relations between the world¡¯s two largest economies face more frost rather than a fresh firefight over trade.

China denounced U.S. President Joe Biden¡¯s administration¡¯s action and vowed ¡°resolute measures¡± to protect its interests.

But Beijing¡¯s response also suggests a new dynamic ¡ª and confidence ¡ª compared with 2018, when former U.S. President Donald Trump¡¯s tariffs on $300 billion of Chinese goods touched off an escalating trade war, analysts said.