Wednesday, April 9, 2025 - President Donald Trump is set to impose tariffs totaling at least 104% on all Chinese imports starting Wednesday, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
These new levies add to existing tariffs in place before
Trump began his second term in office.
China was initially scheduled to face a 34% tariff hike
under Trump’s “reciprocal” trade policy. However, the administration announced
an additional 50% increase after Beijing reiterated its plan to impose 34%
retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods by noon Tuesday. Combined, this results in a
dramatic 84% jump, bringing the total U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods to over
100%.
“Countries
like China, who have chosen to retaliate and try to double down on their
mistreatment of American workers, are making a mistake,” said Leavitt.
“President Trump has a spine of steel, and he will not break.”
Leavitt claimed that China “wants to make a deal” but “just
doesn’t know how,” while declining to specify what concessions might lead the
U.S. to lower tariffs.
China was the second-largest source of U.S. imports last
year, shipping $439 billion worth of goods, while the U.S. exported $144
billion to China. Economists warn that the escalating tariff war may strain
domestic industries and result in job losses.
China’s Commerce Ministry responded on Tuesday, expressing
strong opposition to the new measures and calling them “a mistake upon a
mistake.” The ministry vowed further retaliation against U.S. exports
Several other nations, including members of the European
Union, also face looming tariff increases under new trade rules announced last
week. These tariffs, set to take effect at midnight, range from 11% to 50%.
Despite diplomatic efforts by various governments to
negotiate exemptions or delays, Leavitt confirmed the administration is moving
forward.
“President
Trump expects these tariffs to go into effect,” she stated, adding that the
president had instructed his trade team to pursue “tailor-made” deals with
countries willing to negotiate. However, she emphasized these would not be
“off-the-rack deals,” and offered no timeline for reaching agreements.
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