Donald Trump has raised China’s tariffs again due to its “lack of respect” whilst imposing a 90-day pause to tariffs on dozens of other countries.
The US President took to his Truth Social platform accusing China of disrepecting the “World’s Markets” and ripping off the USA. He said the tariff charged to China would therfore be raised to 125% “effective immediately”, writing: “Based on the lack of respect that China has shown to the World’s Markets, I am hereby raising the Tariff charged to China by the United States of America to 125%, effective immediately.” He added: “At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the U.S.A., and other Countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable.”
But Trump also gave in to more than 75 countries calling to negotiate the tariffs charged to them.
Announcing a 90-day pause, he said: “Conversely, and based on the fact that more than 75 Countries have called Representatives of the United States, including the Departments of Commerce, Treasury, and the USTR, to negotiate a solution to the subjects being discussed relative to Trade, Trade Barriers, Tariffs, Currency Manipulation, and Non Monetary Tariffs, and that these Countries have not, at my strong suggestion, retaliated in any way, shape, or form against the United States, I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%, also effective immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Just hours ago, it was reported China would face tariffs of 104% from the US – which it responded to by imposing its own 84% tariffs on US goods this afternoon. Explaining his reasons for pausing tariffs, Trump said outside the White House today that some people started getting “Yippy.” He also claimed that China was eager to strike a deal, though he provided no evidence to support this.
The 90-day tariff pause applies to all countries except China, Mexico, and Canada, a White House spokesperson told the BBC. The 10% tariff rate, which took effect on 5 April, is the “baseline” tariff, but it was never applied to Canada or Mexico, and neither country is subject to it now, the official added. When asked if his decision to ease tariffs was linked to poor performance on the bond market, Trump said he had been “watching” it and described it as “beautiful.” He added: “I saw last night where people were getting a little queasy” over the tariffs.
US stock markets surged following news of Trump’s tariff pause. As of this evening, major US indexes saw significant gains: NASDAQ rose 9.4%, Dow Jones climbed 6%, and the S&P 500 jumped 7.5%. Downing Street has meanwhile said it will continue to act “coolly and calmly” after the tariff update, with reports suggesting the UK will be unaffected by the changes. A No 10 spokeswoman said: “A trade war is in nobody’s interests. We don’t want any tariffs at all, so for jobs and livelihoods across the UK, we will coolly and calmly continue to negotiate in Britain’s interests.”
During a press conference held shortly after 6pm this evening, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump raised tariffs against China because “when you punch at the United States of America, President Trump is going to punch back harder”. She added that more than 75 countries reached out to Trump to negotiate, and that the tariff level stands at “universal 10%” for all but China.
Leavitt said: “In the meantime, there will be a 90-day pause in the reciprocal tariffs as these negotiations are ongoing and the tariff level will be brought down to a universal 10%.” Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary, added: “every country in the world who wants to negotiate, we are willing to hear you”. China’s tariff is being raised to 125% due to “their insistence on escalation”, he said. “We are going to work on a solution via our trading partners.”
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