posted 8th April 2025
Trump Threatens China with 104% Tariffs in Escalating Trade Row
Washington, 8 April 2025 – In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing trade dispute between the United States and China, President Donald Trump has vowed to impose a staggering 104% tariff on Chinese goods by midnight tonight unless Beijing reverses its own retaliatory tariffs. The bold declaration, made via a statement on social media, has sent shockwaves through global markets and raised fears of further economic turbulence.
In his characteristic all-caps style, Trump warned: “I AM RAISING TARIFFS ON CHINA TO 104% BY MIDNIGHT IF CHINA DOES NOT DROP THEIR RETALIATORY TARIFFS.” Addressing the Chinese public directly, he added, “TO THE PEOPLE OF CHINA - I HOPE YOUR PRESIDENT IS SMART OTHERWISE IT WILL CAUSE GREAT DAMAGE TO YOUR ECONOMY!”
The announcement comes amid a tit-for-tat trade war that has seen both nations slap punitive tariffs on each other’s exports in recent years. Trump, who has long accused China of unfair trade practices, appears determined to force Beijing into submission with this unprecedented move. Economists, however, warn that such a steep tariff hike could backfire, driving up prices for American consumers and disrupting supply chains already strained by global economic pressures.
China has yet to respond officially, but analysts expect a defiant stance from President Xi Jinping’s government, which has previously branded U.S. tariffs as “economic bullying.” Beijing’s retaliatory measures have included tariffs on American agricultural goods and machinery, hitting Trump’s rural voter base particularly hard.
Financial markets reacted swiftly, with Asian stocks tumbling and the pound slipping against the dollar as investors braced for the fallout. In London, experts voiced concerns over the ripple effects on British businesses reliant on both American and Chinese trade. “This is a high-stakes gamble,” said Dr. Emily Hargreaves, an economist at the London School of Economics. “A tariff war of this magnitude could destabilise the global economy, and the UK won’t be immune.”
Trump’s critics in the U.S. have slammed the move as reckless, while his supporters hail it as a bold defence of American interests. With the clock ticking towards midnight in Washington, all eyes are on Beijing to see whether it will blink—or double down—in the face of Trump’s ultimatum.
