U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to China, threatening to impose a 50% tariff on Chinese imports if Beijing does not reverse its recent retaliatory measures. This comes after Trump announced a 34% tariff on Chinese goods last week as part of his “Liberation Day” policy, which also set a minimum 10% levy on nearly all of America’s trade partners. In a social media post on Monday, Trump gave China until Tuesday to withdraw its countermeasure or face the 50% tax.
The Chinese government quickly responded, accusing the U.S. of “economic bullying” and defending its right to protect its legitimate interests. The Chinese embassy in Washington said Beijing would “firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests” and criticized the U.S. for its “unilateralism and protectionism.”
If Trump follows through on his threat, U.S. companies could face a total tariff of up to 104% on Chinese imports. This would be in addition to the 20% tariffs already imposed in March and the 34% tariff announced last week. The escalating trade war between the world’s two largest economies has sparked global economic uncertainty, with stock markets plunging in response to the growing tensions.
In his Truth Social post, Trump also declared that any talks with China regarding the tariffs would be terminated, accusing the country of ignoring his previous warning that any retaliation would result in higher tariffs. Trump has made it clear that his administration will not consider pausing the global import tariffs to allow for negotiations, stating that many countries are eager to negotiate “fair deals” with the U.S.
The U.S. tariffs are expected to hit China’s manufacturing sector hard, particularly industries that rely heavily on exports to the U.S., including electronics, machinery, and furniture. China’s top exports to the U.S. also include vehicles and toys, while the U.S. sends oilseeds, grains, aircraft, and machinery to China.
As the trade war intensifies, global markets continue to experience volatility, and it remains unclear how these tariffs will shape future diplomatic and economic relations between the U.S. and its trading partners.
