Beijing/Washington/Brussels — In a dramatic escalation of trade tensions, China announced retaliatory tariffs of 84% on US goods Wednesday, following a sweeping wave of new levies imposed by President Donald Trump earlier in the day. The move marks a sharp intensification of the ongoing trade war between the WORLD’s two largest economies — and now involves Europe as well, which has also declared countermeasures against the US.
China Responds with Force: 84% Tariff and Export Bans
The State Council Tariff Commission of China declared that the US escalation is “a mistake upon mistake”, violating international trade norms and severely harming China’s rights and interests. Beijing’s newly announced tariffs raise the total levy on US goods to 104%, matching Washington’s recent hikes.
China’s Ministry of Commerce didn’t stop at tariffs. It:
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Imposed export controls on 12 US companies, cutting them off from dual-use technology
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Added six more US firms to its “unreliable entity list”, banning investment and trade
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Filed a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the latest US actions
Trump’s Tariff Blitz and Global Fallout
Earlier Wednesday, President Trump enacted a massive increase in tariffs on Chinese imports, raising duties by an additional 84 percentage points, citing China’s refusal to return to the negotiation table. These new levies come on top of earlier 20% and 34% hikes, bringing cumulative US tariffs on Chinese goods to record highs.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent downplayed China’s response, labeling the country the “worst offender” in international trade and asserting that the escalation will hurt Beijing more than Washington. “China is the surplus country,” Bessent said on Fox Business. “They export five times more to us than we do to them. Let them raise tariffs — it doesn’t change that math.”
European Union Joins the Fight
In a coordinated response, the European Union announced its own retaliatory tariffs on US imports, taking effect next week. This move comes after the Biden administration’s earlier steel and aluminum tariffs, which were seen by Brussels as a violation of transatlantic trade agreements.
The European Commission emphasized that the countermeasures could be suspended if the US returns to fair and balanced negotiations.
China Vows to “Fight to the End”
Despite signaling readiness for dialogue, China remains publicly defiant. A Foreign Ministry spokesperson urged the US to act with “mutual respect and equality,” warning that further escalation will be met with firm countermeasures.
A newly released white paper from China’s Ministry of Commerce highlighted the damage caused by what it called “unilateral and protectionist” measures by Washington. Chinese officials reiterated that Beijing doesn’t want a trade war, but will not stand by as its interests are threatened.
The country is now bracing for fallout in its export sector, a major pillar of its economy. With $500 billion in US-China trade at stake, the impact of the growing tariff conflict could be profound, not just for the countries involved, but for global markets at large.
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- My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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