The United States will raise tariffs on Chinese imports to 104% on Wednesday, the White House has said.
This development comes after the expiration of the deadline set by the White House for China to remove its retaliatory tariff.
Earlier, China vowed to “fight to the end” against the United States amid escalating tensions between the two countries.
In response to former President Trump’s earlier stance to impose an additional 50% tariff on China, Chinese President Xi Jinping adopted a hardline position. Beijing accused Washington of “blackmail” and pledged to “fight to the end if Trump follows through on his threats.”
On Monday, President Trump threatened to impose new 50% tariffs on Chinese goods if Beijing did not withdraw its retaliatory trade measures against the U.S. by Tuesday.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump demanded that China reverse its recent 34% tariff hike on U.S. imports or face severe consequences.
“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 percent effective April 9th,” Trump wrote.
The president further warned that ongoing trade negotiations with China would be halted if Beijing fails to comply.
“Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated!” he added.
The warning came after Beijing’s announcement on Friday of reciprocal 34% tariffs on all imports from the U.S.—a move that sparked immediate backlash from the White House.
In a statement, China’s State Council Tariff Commission denounced the U.S. action as a “typical unilateral bullying practice” and accused Washington of violating international trade norms, according to the Mail Online.
Trump, visibly angered by China’s response, lashed out in a separate Truth Social post over the weekend:
“China played it wrong, they panicked — the one thing they cannot afford to do!”
Despite growing concerns over market volatility and three consecutive days of losses on Wall Street, Trump has remained defiant.
Trump administration officials stated they would not prioritise negotiations with the world’s No. 2 economic power.
His sweeping tariffs have raised fears of a recession and disrupted a decades-old global trading system.
“Right now, we’ve received the instruction to prioritise our allies and our trading partners like Japan and Korea and others,” White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said on Fox News.
On Friday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the administration’s trade strategy, arguing that the tariffs were necessary to rebalance the economic relationship with China.
“I don’t know if they can retaliate,” Bessent said, citing the U.S.’s leverage in the trade deficit.
“Over the next few years, they may have to come around because I think their business model is broken. I think President Donald has broken their business model with these tariffs.”
The White House has positioned its aggressive tariff strategy as a long-term effort to protect American workers and industries, despite short-term economic turbulence.
However, with the trade war intensifying, global markets and diplomatic observers are bracing for further escalation.
