China Warns of Retaliation as Trump Threatens Sweeping New Tariffs

Beijing/Washington, April 8, 2025 — A fresh wave of trade tensions is escalating between the United States and China, with Beijing vowing to resist Washington’s latest tariff threats “to the end.” The warning comes after U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose an additional 50% tariff on Chinese imports if Beijing fails to reverse its recent hike in duties on American goods.

Responding to the U.S. stance, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce, cited by AFP, condemned the move as a strategic blunder. “The U.S. threat to escalate tariffs against China is a mistake on top of a mistake, which once again exposes the U.S.’s blackmailing nature. China will never accept this,” the ministry declared.

The latest development follows Trump’s sweeping tariff announcement last week that roiled global markets and stoked fears of an impending international recession. The sharp escalation drew strong criticism from economists and world leaders alike.

In a commentary published by People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, Beijing sought to project confidence. “U.S. tariffs will have an impact [on China], but the sky won’t fall,” the article stated. “Since the U.S. initiated the [first] trade war in 2017 – no matter how the U.S. fights or presses – we have continued to develop and progress, demonstrating resilience – the more pressure we get, the stronger we become.”

Under Trump’s latest directive, the U.S. has imposed an additional 34% duty on all Chinese imports, raising the cumulative tariff rate to over 54%. Beijing swiftly responded with a matching 34% tariff on all American imports and hinted at broader retaliatory measures in the pipeline.

On Sunday, Trump took to Truth Social to issue an ultimatum:

“If China does not withdraw its 34 per cent increase above their already long-term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose additional tariffs on China of 50 per cent, effective April 9th.”

Despite the rising tensions, Chinese officials signaled a steady approach in navigating the global economic climate. In an earlier statement, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its long-term outlook:

“As the world’s second-largest economy and the second-largest consumer market, China will only continue to open its doors wider, regardless of the changing international landscape.”

The intensifying standoff adds to an already fragile global trade environment and sets the stage for what could become a prolonged and damaging economic confrontation between the world’s two largest economies.