China on Friday retaliated against tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump by announcing 34% additional tariffs on all goods imported from the United States
This comes after Trump slapped an additional 34% tariffs on Chinese goods, escalating a tariff war between the two largest economies in the world.
“On April 2, 2025, the US government announced the imposition of “reciprocal tariffs” on Chinese goods exported to the US. This practice of the US is not in line with international trade rules, seriously undermines China’s legitimate rights and interests, and is a typical unilateral bullying practice,” China’s State Council Tariff Commission said while announcing retaliatory tariffs.
“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,” it said.
A 34% tariff will be imposed on all imported goods originating from the United States on the basis of the current applicable tariff rate. The current bonded, tax reduction and exemption policies remain unchanged, and the additional tariffs will not be reduced or exempted, the statement said.
“If the goods have been shipped from the place of departure before 12:01 on April 10, 2025, and are imported between 12:01 on April 10, 2025 and 24:00 on May 13, 2025, the additional tariffs prescribed in this announcement will not be levied,” China’s State Council Tariff Commission said.
Trump had earlier levied two tranches of 10% additional duties on all Chinese goods imports. Chinese goods in the US are now effectively subject to 54% tariffs.
While announcing tariffs, Trump said that China charged 67% tariffs to US goods including currency manipulation and trade barriers. “We are going to be charging a discounted reciprocal tariff of 34%. We charge them less. So how can anybody be upset. They will be because we never charged anybody anything but now we are going to charge,” said Trump.
“The fact that R&D expenditures by U.S. multinational enterprises in China grew at an average rate of 13.6 percent a year between 2003 and 2017, while their R&D expenditures in the United States grew by an average of just 5 percent per year during the same time period, is evidence of the strong link between manufacturing and innovation,” the executive order signed by Trump stated.
