Former US President Donald Trump has warned that he will apply an additional 50% tax on imports from China if the country doesn’t cancel its plan to hit US goods with a new 34% tariff. The warning comes as the trade war between the two economic giants heats up again.
In a message posted on his Truth Social app, Trump said any country that adds new tariffs on US goods will be punished with even higher tariffs from America.
US Could Raise Tariffs to 104% on Chinese Goods
“If China doesn’t remove its extra 34% import tax by April 8, 2025,” Trump said, “the US will apply a new 50% tariff starting April 9.”
If that happens, the total tax on some Chinese imports could reach 104%, including earlier tariffs meant to reduce the trade gap and fight drug trafficking like fentanyl.
This comes on top of Trump’s announcement last week of a 10% global tariff on all products entering the US and “reciprocal tariffs” on about 90 countries. Trump called that move “Liberation Day,” claiming these taxes will help the US fix unfair trade relationships.
China Responds With Its Own Tariffs
In response to Trump’s earlier 34% tariff on Chinese goods, China said it would apply the same 34% tax on all US products starting April 10. This has increased tensions and triggered fears of a full-blown trade war, which could hurt both economies.
According to official US data, the country imported around $439 billion worth of goods from China in the past year. These include electronics like Apple iPhones, as well as clothes and home goods.
How These Tariffs Affect Ordinary People
Experts say that American consumers will feel the impact of these taxes. When US companies like Walmart import products from China, they have to pay these taxes, and usually, they raise prices to cover the extra cost.
A report by the Yale Budget Lab says the earlier tariffs could already raise the cost of living by about $3,789 per year for the average American family. If the 50% tariff is added, costs could go even higher.
This could increase inflation again, which means the prices of goods and services in the US may rise further. Economists also warn that this trade war might hurt economic growth and could even lead to a recession.
Stock Markets Nervous, Economists Concerned
Wall Street has been reacting negatively to Trump’s tariff threats. Investors are worried that the growing conflict between the US and China will slow down the economy and hurt businesses that depend on global trade.
Meanwhile, Trump has said he will start fresh trade talks with other countries too. He mentioned Japan, saying their trade practices are unfair because they sell many cars in the US but don’t allow American cars in their country. He said he had spoken to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to begin new negotiations.
Non-Tariff Issues Also Matter, Says White House Adviser
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro added that lowering tariffs is not enough. He said some countries like Vietnam cheat in other ways—through things like regulations and hidden taxes that make it hard for US companies to compete fairly.
“When they say ‘zero tariffs,’ that’s not enough,” Navarro told CNBC. “We need deeper changes.”
