In a sharp escalation of the ongoing trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies, China has announced a significant increase in tariffs on US imports, raising them to 125%. The move comes in retaliation to the United States' recent imposition of 145% tariffs on Chinese goods.
China's Ministry of Finance made the announcement on Friday (April 11), stating that the new tariff rates will take effect starting Saturday (April 12). This increase raises the current additional tariff from 84% to 125% on all US products.
State-run news agency Xinhua and US outlet Bloomberg both confirmed the development, citing official sources in Beijing.
Since assuming office in January, the Trump administration has introduced several rounds of tariffs totaling 145% on Chinese imports. These steps follow earlier tariff measures implemented during Trump's first term and under the Biden administration.
Despite the latest retaliatory action, Beijing emphasized it has no intention of engaging in a continuous back-and-forth tariff war. In a statement, China's Customs Tariff Commission said the new rates effectively eliminate the competitiveness of US goods in the Chinese market. It also warned that if Washington imposes further tariffs, China will disregard them entirely.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce asserted that China will continue defending its interests and legitimate rights while also working to uphold the multilateral trade system and global economic stability. The spokesperson criticized the US actions as unilateral and coercive, arguing they violate World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations.
In response to the escalating measures, China filed a formal complaint with the WTO earlier this week. Authorities in Beijing are reportedly preparing for legal proceedings.
According to US data, bilateral trade between China and the US amounted to $582.4 billion in 2024. However, the WTO has warned that the ongoing tariff conflict could slash that figure by up to 80%.
