China Strikes Back by Imposing 34% Tariffs on U.S. Imports Amid Escalating Trade War

China has retaliated against the United States in response to President Donald Trump’s escalation of tariffs.

On April 4, 2025, Beijing announced it would impose a 34% tariff on all U.S. imports, effective April 10. This mirrors the additional 34% tariff imposed by the U.S. earlier in the week, which raised the total tariff rate on Chinese goods entering the U.S. to 54%.

China’s countermeasures extend beyond tariffs. The government has introduced export restrictions on rare earth elements—critical for high-tech manufacturing—and added 11 American firms to its “unreliable entity list,” subjecting them to trade sanctions and export bans on dual-use goods. Additionally, China has suspended imports from certain U.S. suppliers over regulatory violations.

The retaliation marks a significant escalation in the trade war, with both nations imposing sweeping tariffs on each other’s goods. China’s Ministry of Commerce criticized the U.S.’s actions as unilateral and inconsistent with international trade rules, filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO).

These developments have triggered sharp declines in global stock markets and heightened fears of a global recession.