Republican lawmakers fear the defiant Chinese response to President Trump’s sweeping tariffs leaves the world’s two largest economies hurtling toward a trade war that could last for months.

Republican senators agree with Trump’s claim that China hasn’t dealt fairly with the United States and acknowledge that China needs the U.S. market for its own economic prosperity.

But they worry that the political stakes for Chinese President Xi Jinping may be too high for him to agree to a trade deal with Trump anytime soon, something that could have significant consequences for U.S. exporters, especially farmers, as well as businesses that source cheap goods from China.

“That’s what's concerning to me. China is all about [saving] face. When they say they’re going to ‘fight to the end,’ that’s concerning to me,” said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).

Tillis noted that the United States sources many essential goods from China, which would make it difficult on domestic businesses if trade tensions between the countries escalate.

“When there are so many things that we have allowed — mistakenly, but allowed — to only be manufactured in China, if you’re not getting an exception for like the textile industry and a number of others, I think it’s going to be consequential, and not in a positive way,” Tillis said.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Tuesday floated the possibility that escalating trade tensions with China could impact the market for U.S. debt, and more........

© The Hill