Trump threatens China with new extreme tariffs after they announced 34% retaliation on US goods
Donald Trump has threatened to implement additional tariffs against China after the country hit back to his 'Liberation Day' charges.
On April 2, the POTUS declared tariffs of a staggering 54 percent against China, including earlier duties already in place, as he claimed it was a day that would be remembered as 'the day American industry was reborn, the day America's destiny was reclaimed, and the day that we began to 'Make America Wealthy Again'.'
Needless to say, the tariffs didn't go down well with many of the affected countries, and China soon responded to announce that it would add a 34 percent tariff on US goods starting from April 10.
China has suspended sorghum, poultry and bonemeal imports from some American companies, and also launched legal action over the US’ new tariffs as it claimed they violated World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.
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Trump wasn't impressed with the country's response, claiming in a post on Truth Social China had 'played it wrong'.
"THEY PANICKED - THE ONE THING THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO DO!," he wrote after the country's initial announcement.
Now, Trump has taken to Truth Social again to warn China of what will happen if it doesn't walk back its tariffs.
In his post, the POTUS wrote: "Yesterday, China issued Retaliatory Tariffs of 34%, on top of their already record setting Tariffs, Non-Monetary Tariffs, Illegal Subsidization of companies, and massive long term Currency Manipulation, despite my warning that any country that Retaliates against the U.S. 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."
Trump continued: "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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
Trump's latest post comes after China's foreign affairs spokesman Lin Jian condemned the US for its tariffs, accusing the country of 'economic bullying'.
Speaking to reporters, he said: “Putting the US first over international rules is a typical act of unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying.”
Lin also warned the country that China would not react well to 'threats' - likely of the type Trump has just issued.
He said: "Pressure and threats are not the way to deal with China. China will firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests."
Topics: Donald Trump, China, Politics, World News
Emily Brown