China hits back with 84% tariff on US goods after Trump’s 104% trade move
PTC Web Desk: In a strong response to US President Donald Trump's latest trade move, China has sharply increased tariffs on all American goods. Starting April 10, China will impose an 84% tariff, up from the earlier 34%, as part of the ongoing trade battle with the United States. The announcement was made by China’s finance ministry and reported by news agency Reuters.
This comes just one day after Donald Trump slapped a 104% tariff on Chinese imports. The White House confirmed that the new US tariffs were being collected from Wednesday, April 9.
The back-and-forth began after Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods. China responded last week with a 34% tariff and plans to control exports of rare earth materials, which are key components in computer chips and electric vehicle batteries.
In its official statement, China said these export restrictions were aimed at protecting national security and fulfilling international commitments like non-proliferation. Trump reacted strongly on his Truth Social account, saying, “China played it wrong, they panicked — the one thing they cannot afford to do!”
But China has now doubled down. By increasing the tariff to 84%, Beijing is showing that it’s ready to push back against Trump’s 104% duties. China’s commerce ministry said it was prepared to “fight to the end” if the US continued to raise trade barriers.
China also took additional steps by adding 12 American companies to its export control list and including 6 US firms in its “unreliable entity” list.
These moves are expected to have global effects. Following China’s announcement, US stock market futures reportedly fell sharply, signaling market concerns over the escalating trade tension.
Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Li Qiang stated that China has enough policy tools to deal with any outside economic pressure. He remained positive about China’s economic growth in 2025, saying the country can handle any external challenges effectively.
So far, China has not confirmed whether it will enter into talks with the US, though many other countries are already negotiating with Washington to avoid similar tariffs.
- With inputs from agencies
