China has reacted to Donald Trump’s tariff hike by increasing its own on US goods, rising to 84%.
The US president sparked fury in Beijing last week as he announced a tariff of 34% on the nation, which was to come on top of 20% levies he imposed on the country earlier this year. He has since added a 50% levy on Chinese goods, bringing the combined total to an eye-watering 104% against China. Beijing has now reacted to Trump’s tariffs and announced its reciprocal charges on US goods would increase – from 34% to 84% – and come into force tomorrow.
China’s state media reported: “The US’ practice of escalating tariffs on China is a mistake on top of a mistake, seriously infringing on China’s legitimate rights and interests, and seriously damaging the rules-based multilateral trading system.
“In accordance with the Tariff Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Customs Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Foreign Trade Law of the People’s Republic of China and other laws and regulations and basic principles of international law, with the approval of the State Council, from 12:01 on April 10, 2025, the tariff increase measures on imported goods originating from the United States will be adjusted.”
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian earlier told a news conference: “The US continues to abuse tariffs to pressure China, China firmly opposes this and will never accept this kind of bullying.”
He added if Trump wants to solve the problem through dialogue and negotiation, it should adopt an attitude of “equality, respect and mutual benefit”. However, if Trump “insists” on provoking a trade war, “China will be compelled to fight to the end”.
Financial markets across the world were thrown even further into meltdown after Trump hit China with huge 104% tariffs – worsening fears of a new global recession. The FTSE immediately dropped by 2.4% this morning and Asian shares sank again overnight as the latest set of tariffs – including the massive levy on Chinese imports – went into effect at around 5am BST.
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It follows days of freefall on the financial markets triggered by the US president’s new border taxes, which threaten to upend existing relationships and set off a global trade war. The Bank of England has also spoken out over the ongoing issue, as its Financial Policy Committee (FPC) said in its latest report: “The global risk environment has deteriorated and uncertainty has intensified. The probability of adverse events, and the potential severity of their impact, have risen.”
It comes as this morning it was reported Trump claimed China “very badly” wants a deal in a post on his Truth Social account about South Korea. The president claimed: “I just had a great call with the Acting President of South Korea.
“We talked about their tremendous and unsustainable surplus, tariffs, shipbuilding, large scale purchase of US LNG, their joint venture in an Alaska Pipeline, and payment for the big time military protection we provide to South Korea. They began these military payments during my first term, Billions of Dollars, but Sleepy Joe Biden, for reasons unknown, terminated the deal.
““China also wants to make a deal, badly, but they don’t know how to get it started. We are waiting for their call. It will happen! GOD BLESS THE USA.”
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