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Beijing — In response to President Trump’s recent threat to impose a substantial 50% tariff on Chinese imports, China has declared that it will “fight to the end” and implement countermeasures deemed necessary to protect its interests. The Chinese Commerce Ministry criticized the U.S. move, branding it as a “completely groundless” example of unilateral bullying.
As the second-largest economy in the world, China has already implemented retaliatory tariffs, and the ministry’s statement suggests that further actions could be on the horizon.
According to the ministry, the countermeasures are intended to defend China’s sovereignty, security, and developmental interests while also preserving the integrity of international trade norms. “The actions taken by China are entirely justified,” it asserted, labeling the U.S. tariff threat as yet another misguided decision that highlights the coercive tendencies of the U.S. government. “Should the U.S. continue down this path, China is prepared to push back decisively.”
Mr. Trump’s announcement about potential new tariffs has reignited fears of an escalating trade conflict between the two nations, which could inflict widespread economic damage. This turmoil has caused considerable instability in global stock markets, with analysts warning that the risk of a worldwide recession is growing.
Trump’s threats follow China’s previous announcement of retaliatory measures against recently announced U.S. tariffs. The president stated on his Truth Social platform that if China does not withdraw its 34% tariff hike by April 8, 2025, the U.S. would impose additional tariffs of 50%, effective the following day. Furthermore, Trump indicated that he would halt all discussions with China relates to requested dialogues.
If these tariffs are enacted, they would push the total U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods to a staggering 104%. This increase comes in addition to the 20% tariffs related to fentanyl trafficking and the separate 34% tariffs introduced earlier. Such drastic tax hikes are likely to escalate prices for American consumers, while simultaneously providing China with an impetus to redirect its exports to other countries and strengthen its trade ties, particularly with the European Union.
In light of these developments, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has urged China to engage in discussions with the EU to collaboratively address the global challenges posed by the sweeping U.S. tariffs.
During a conversation with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang, von der Leyen emphasized the importance of both Europe and China in fostering a robust and equitable global trade framework. Her statement also noted that the two leaders explored the potential establishment of mechanisms to monitor suspected trade diversions triggered by U.S. tariffs—specifically, concerns that China may reroute goods originally destined for the U.S. to European markets, a practice that could lead to dumping and adversely affect local businesses.
On the streets of Beijing, citizens have expressed confusion over the ongoing trade developments but maintain confidence in their nation’s resilience. “Trump changes his stance constantly, he just wants to benefit at the end of the day,” stated Wu Qi, 37, a construction worker. He expressed little concern about the situation, asserting that China will manage despite the threats and emphasized the importance of protecting ordinary individuals from potential adverse effects.
Experts suggest that China has several alternative strategies available to counteract U.S. actions, including scaling back cooperation on fentanyl issues, enforcing higher quotas on agricultural products, and limiting U.S. service industries’ operations in China, such as banking and legal services.
In 2024, total goods trade between the U.S. and China reached approximately $582 billion, marking China as the leading trade partner for the U.S. That year, the trade deficit between the two nations ranged from $263 billion to $295 billion.
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