Beijing, April 4 – In a strong countermeasure to the United States’ tariff decision, China on Friday announced an additional 34 percent duty on all goods imported from the US, deepening the ongoing trade rift between the world’s two largest economies. The move comes in response to US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 34 percent tariff on Chinese imports, part of a broader trade reform plan described as the “Liberation Day” package.
As per agency report, the new Chinese tariffs will come into effect from April 10. These include a base tariff of 10 percent, beginning April 5, followed by a special retaliatory levy of 24 percent from April 9. Together, these measures raise the total tariff burden on US goods to 34 percent.
The state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that in addition to the tariff increase, China has also filed a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO), alleging that the US's actions violate international trade rules. Further, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced that it will restrict exports of dual-use items to 16 American companies, marking a significant escalation in trade restrictions.
President Trump’s announcement on Wednesday stated that the 34 percent tariff on Chinese goods would help reshape US trade policy. He claimed that China imposes an effective 67 percent tariff on US goods, factoring in currency manipulation and other non-tariff barriers. With the newly imposed US tariffs, the effective duty on Chinese goods entering the US now stands at 54 percent, nearing the 60 percent figure he previously threatened during his campaign.
In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun criticized the US measures, stating that they constitute a serious violation of WTO regulations and undermine the rules-based multilateral trading system. Guo emphasized that China strongly opposes these actions and will take all necessary steps to protect its legal rights and interests.
China’s decision to impose steep retaliatory tariffs further intensifies fears of a prolonged trade conflict that could have global economic repercussions. According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the total goods trade between the US and China in 2024 was estimated at $582.4 billion. Of this, US exports to China stood at $143.5 billion, while imports from China totaled $438.9 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $295.4 billion for the US.
China’s latest move underscores its firm stance against the US’s aggressive trade policy, especially at a time when tensions are also flaring between Washington and other major trading partners. The US remains China’s third-largest export destination after ASEAN and the European Union.
