Trump threatens China with additional 50% tariff to counter 34% levy on imports

US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened China with a whopping 50 per cent additional tariff, on top of the 34 per cent levy on Chinese imports announced a few days back.

Besides, Trump has given China one day to undo its 34 per cent reciprocal tariffs announcement on US imports, and said the additional 50% tariff would be applicable from April 9 if the deadline is not met.

The development came amid a global stock market meltdown in the aftermath of Trump’s tariff announcement for different countries.

In his post on Truthsocial, Trump said, “Yesterday, China issued Retaliatory Tariffs of 34%, on top of their already record-setting Tariffs, Non-Monetary Tariffs, Illegal Subsidisation of companies, and massive long-term Currency Manipulation, despite my warning that any country that Retaliates against the US by issuing additional Tariffs, above and beyond their already existing long term Tariff abuse of our Nation, will be immediately met with new and substantially higher Tariffs, over and above those initially set.”

He further emphasised the consequences of China’s actions, saying, “Therefore, 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%, effective April 9th. Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated! Negotiations with other countries, which have also requested meetings, will begin taking place immediately.”

Donald Trump on April 5 announced “discounted” reciprocal tariffs on trading partners including India of 26 per cent tariffs on imports of Indian goods.

China, on the other hand, faced 34 per cent tariffs from the Republican president. In a tit-for-tat move, the China Finance ministry announced it will be slapping an additional 34 per cent tariff on all US goods from April 10.

Chinese ministry also announced export controls on medium and heavy rare-earths, including samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium, effective from April 4.

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