Trump imposes 104 percent tariff on China, as financial turmoil grows
Nick Beams
April 9, 2025
A week after US President Trump launched his economic war against the world under the banner of so-called “reciprocal tariffs,” China will have a tariff of 104 percent imposed on its goods starting today.
This follows the decision by Trump to hit China with an additional 50 percent tariff, following its imposition of a 34 percent tariff on US goods in response to the US decision to impose tariffs of 54 percent last week.
When previous tariff increases are considered, imposed under the first Trump administration and maintained by President Biden, the tariff level against China is now around 120 percent. Nothing like this has ever been seen before.
The latest measures have brought a defiant response from Beijing.
A spokesperson from the Commerce Ministry said:
“If the US proceeds with implementing these escalated tariff measures, China will resolutely take countermeasures to safeguard its own rights and interests.
If the US insists on going its own way, China will fight to the end.”
As other countries have sought talks and negotiations, Beijing is digging in for a major battle. The all-out conflict between the number one and number two economies will reverberate around the world, with far-reaching implications for every country, even more than it already has.
The ministry official said the tariff escalation was “a mistake compounded by another mistake and once again exposes the coercive nature of the US side. China will never accept this.”
The economic war against China has embroiled the countries of Southeast Asia, which have been hit with some of the highest tariffs, including Malaysia at 24 percent, Vietnam at 46 percent, Cambodia at 49 percent, Indonesia at 32 percent, and Thailand at 37 percent. These tariffs threaten to devastate their economies.
The aim of these measures is not to equalize or balance trade between the US and these countries. Not even officials in the Trump administration, in their most deranged moments, believe that is remotely possible because the countries involved do not have the economic wherewithal to even come close.
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Trump threatens China with added 50% tariffs if Beijing does not drop its own levies
By Khushboo Razdanin Washington
Apr 7, 2025
US President Donald Trump warned China on Monday that its imports would face an additional 50 per cent tariff – raising the total levy to more than 100 per cent – unless it lifts the retaliatory levies it imposed on American goods in response to the Trump administration’s heavy new duties last week.
“If China does not withdraw its 34% increase above their already long term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50%, effective April 9th. Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated,” he threatened in a post on his Truth Social account.
Trump has stood firm on the steep “reciprocal” tariffs he imposed on all imports entering the US, set to take effect on Wednesday, including a 34 per cent duty on Chinese goods. In response, Beijing imposed its own 34 per cent tariffs on US products.
He lashed out at China for striking back, accusing Beijing of imposing additional tariffs “on top of their already record setting Tariffs, Non-Monetary Tariffs, Illegal Subsidization of companies, and massive long term Currency Manipulation” despite his warnings against such actions.
Shortly after taking office in January, Trump imposed a 20 per cent additional tariff on Chinese imports, ostensibly for failing to do enough to combat the illegal flow of illicit drugs into the US. Following last week’s 34 per cent tariff increase, the total now stands at 54 per cent.
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China announces retaliation against Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs”
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