New Delhi, April 9 -- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday (April 8) delivered a pointed warning to countries like China that have chosen to respond to the US tariffs with their own measures.

"... countries like China who have chosen to retaliate and try to double down on their mistreatment of American workers are making a mistake," she said. "President Trump has a spine of steel and he will not break."

Her comments came days after China imposed retaliatory tariffs of 34% on US goods, escalating trade tensions further.

Leavitt said the Trump administration is open to negotiating trade deals on a country-by-country basis but made clear that retaliation would be met with firm resistance.

"All options are on the table ...