Trump raises tariffs against China, Beijing responds with 84% tariffs: trade war escalates

Excluded from the 90-day truce announced by Trump, China launches counter-duties on all US products. Brussels welcomes EU break and raises openness to tariff deal

Additional tariffs of 84% imposed by China on all products imported from the US come into effect today, in response to new measures announced by Washington. The decision, which marks an escalation in the ongoing trade war, was confirmed by the state-run Global Times newspaper and Beijing’s General Administration of Customs. US goods shipped before 12.01am on 10 April (6am in Italy) and arriving in China by 13 May will be exempt from the new duties.

The Chinese countermeasures come after the announcement by US President Donald Trump, who decided to freeze duties for 90 days on all countries except China, against which a tariff increase of up to 125% came into effect. In a post on Truth Social, Trump commented: ‘What a day, but more great days are ahead’.

Beijing: ‘Ready to fight to the end’

Harsh reaction from the Chinese government. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning shared a 1953 video with a speech by Mao Zedong: ‘No matter how long this war lasts, we will never surrender. We will fight until complete triumph’. Trade Ministry spokesman He Yongqian also reiterated the government’s position: ‘If the US wants to fight, our response will continue until the end. But if they want to dialogue, the door remains open, as long as it is based on mutual respect and equality’.

Von der Leyen: ‘Good for US truce, EU ready to negotiate’

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the tariff suspension announced by Washington, calling it ‘an important step towards stabilising the global economy’. In a message on social media, she recalled that duties ‘only harm businesses and consumers’, and renewed the EU’s support for a zero-duty trade agreement with the US. At the same time, Brussels responded to US policy by imposing counter-duties of between 10% and 25% on various US goods.

Von der Leyen reiterated the EU’s commitment to diversifying trade alliances: ‘We work with countries that account for 87% of world trade. Our single market is the real anchor of stability and resilience in times of uncertainty’.

A partial truce, a global escalation

The truce announced by Trump concerns only those trading partners that have not responded with retaliatory measures, such as the European Union. For China, on the other hand, the tightening of duties to 125%, which according to some sources has already risen to 150%, marks a new phase of bilateral tension. Dialogue still seems possible, but the clash remains open and in full swing.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)