In a sharp escalation of trade tensions, China’s Ministry of Finance announced on Friday it will impose an additional 34% tariff on all U.S. goods effective April 10, in response to the sweeping tariff measures imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this week.
“In accordance with the Tariff Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Customs Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Foreign Trade Law of the People’s Republic of China and other laws and regulations and the basic principles of international law, and with the approval of the State Council, additional tariffs will be imposed on imported goods originating from the United States from 12:01 on April 10, 2025,” State Council Tariff Commission said.
The retaliatory move comes just days after Trump unveiled an identical 34% tariff on imports from China, a decision that has already rattled global markets and raised the risk of a full-scale trade war between the world’s two largest economies.
Chinese exports to the U.S. were already facing a 20% additional tariff burden prior to the latest announcement. With the new duties, the total effective tariff rate on shipments from China to the U.S. rises to 54%, making it one of the highest trade barriers imposed by the Trump administration.
The finance ministry stated that the tariffs would apply across all categories of U.S. goods, although the effective rate may vary by product line, depending on prior classifications and exemptions.
With both countries now locked in tit-for-tat tariff escalation, economists warn of further disruptions to global supply chains and potential inflationary pressure, especially as businesses face rising input costs and uncertainty in trade policy.
