Trump's 104 pc tariff hike on China effective from today amid fears of trade war
White House says Trump has no intention to consider extension or delay for coming tariff hikes, and the tax raise on China will be effective from April 9 onwards
A full-blown trade war might be just around the corner, with the US officially imposing a tariff of 104 per cent on Chinese goods starting Wednesday (April 9).
The White House has reportedly announced that the new tariffs would be effective from April 9 onwards, as China, as demanded by US President Donald Trump, has not withdrawn its retaliatory duty of 34 per cent on American goods.
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No extensions, delays: White House
“104 per cent additional tariffs went into effect at noon eastern time because China has not removed its retaliation. The 104 per cent additional tariff will be collected starting tomorrow April 9,” Fox Business quoted the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt as saying.
The US’s additional tariffs come after China imposed tit-for-tat tariffs on US goods following the latter’s tax hike.
The 104 per cent tariff includes the existing tariffs and new taxes under Section 301 of the Trade Act.
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At Tuesday’s briefing, Levitt also said that Trump had not been considering an extension or delay for coming rate increases.
“He expects that these tariffs are going to go into effect,” she said.
China braces for counter measures
Are more tariffs coming? As part of a flurry of countermeasures, China has said it will levy its own 34 per cent tariff on all US goods — matching Trump's rate — starting Thursday.
Trump was quick to criticise China's move — but China has maintained that it will “fight to the end” and take countermeasures against the US to protect itself.
On Tuesday, China's Commerce Ministry called Trump's threat to escalate tariffs “a mistake on top of a mistake” that “once again exposes the blackmailing nature of the US.”
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While China has taken the toughest approach so far, several countries signalled that they are evaluating their own responses to Trump's levies.
Trump’s threat
The US president on Monday warned China that his government would impose an additional 50 per cent tariff on Chinese goods if Beijing doesn’t withdraw the retaliatory tariff of 34 per cent.
“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,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Also read: Trump threatens 50 per cent more tariffs on China
China responded by accusing the US of blackmail and said it will fight to the end. "The US threat to escalate tariffs on China is a mistake on top of a mistake and once again exposes the blackmailing nature of the US. China will never accept this. If the US insists on its own way, China will fight to the end," the Chinese Commerce Ministry said.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang in a call with European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen on Tuesday, said that Beijing is equipped to "fully offset" any negative external shocks. Qiang also asserted that China will be able to maintain a sustained and healthy economic development despite the tariff hike by the US.