Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump is set to escalate the ongoing trade war with China by imposing a dramatic tariff increase on all Chinese imports, raising the total levy to a staggering 104%. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the new tariffs will take effect on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, following Beijing’s refusal to ease its retaliatory measures against the United States.
The decision comes on the heels of China’s imposition of 34% tariffs on U.S. goods, which went into effect at noon on Tuesday, April 8. In response, the Trump administration is piling an additional 50% onto the existing 34% tariff rate, a move that will significantly drive up the cost of Chinese products entering the U.S. market. “Countries like China, who have chosen to retaliate and try to double down on their mistreatment of American workers, are making a mistake,” Leavitt said during a Tuesday press briefing. She underscored Trump’s resolve, adding, “President Trump has a spine of steel, and he will not break.”
Trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies have been simmering for years, but this latest escalation marks a sharp turning point. In 2024, China remained the United States’ second-largest import partner, with $439 billion in goods shipped to the U.S., while American exports to China reached $144 billion. Economists warn that the intensified tariff war could ripple through both economies, potentially triggering layoffs, raising consumer prices, and straining industries reliant on cross-border trade.
Leavitt hinted that China may be open to negotiations, stating, “They’re eager to make a deal, but they haven’t figured out how to yet.” However, the White House appears unwavering in its current strategy. The new tariff package isn’t limited to China—other nations, including members of the European Union, will face tariff hikes ranging from 11% to 50%, effective midnight Wednesday. These measures align with Trump’s broader trade agenda, which he has championed as a means to protect American workers and industries.
International efforts to persuade the Trump administration to reconsider or delay the tariffs have so far fallen flat. “He expects that these tariffs are going to go into effect,” Leavitt affirmed after discussions with the president earlier Tuesday. As the deadline looms, businesses and consumers brace for the economic fallout of this bold and unyielding trade policy.
