In the latest plot twist of the ongoing U.S.-China trade saga, Chinese manufacturers recorded a surge in orders last month, as importers scrambled to skirt higher U.S. tariffs imposed by everyone’s favorite boisterous reality star, Donald Trump. According to a report from the Global Times, yes, the newspaper aligned with the Chinese Communist Party, Beijing is cooking up some retaliation recipes that may include slapping tariffs on U.S. agricultural and food products. Honestly, as if the trade war weren’t spicy enough already!

Trump recently escalated tensions with a new tariff of 10% on imports from China, which will hike up to a whopping 20% shortly. He also kicked the “de minimis” exemption, which used to let imports valued under $800 slide through tariff-free. Poor online sellers, right? Nothing like an unexpected dose of capitalism to ruin your day.

China’s Foreign Ministry didn’t mince words about their plans, with spokesperson LIN Jian declaring that the country will take all necessary steps to safeguard its ‘legitimate rights and interests’. So, hold on to your hipster lattes, because a new round of tariffs may soon be brewing.

While the importers scramble to beat the clock, the data from the Chinese manufacturing sector surprised many, revealing a PMI rise to 50.2% in February, a clear signal that activity is picking up before those tariffs can wreak havoc. The manufacturing sector is feeling a bit of a lifeline thanks to government spending and the frantic front-running of businesses trying to dodge the bullets of a tariff-laden economy.

All of this comes as Chinese lawmakers gather in Beijing for their annual National People’s Congress meeting. In true form, they’re expected to endorse some policies that could provide fresh economic boosts as they aim to combat reported slowing growth, down to about 4.5% this year, according to economists. Such is the life of a state-controlled economy; always looking for a boost after a pandemic hangover.

The bottom line? The ongoing tariff tussle continues to be a turbulent point for the world’s second-largest economy. Premier Li Qiang is poised to make some announcements at the Congress that could redefine this fiscal rollercoaster as 2025 rounds the corner. Anything to make those consumers stop saving so much and start spending, right? Let’s see if they can conjure up some new tricks soon.

In the ever-complicated saga of U.S.-China trade relations, the tit-for-tat continues. Grab your popcorn; it looks like we’re in for another loud episode in the series.