Wed Apr 09 03:02:48 UTC 2025: ## Trump Slams China with 104% Tariffs in Escalating Trade War
**Washington D.C.** – President Donald Trump has dramatically escalated the trade war with China, imposing a staggering 104% tariff on Chinese goods. This follows a 24-hour ultimatum to Beijing to retract its own retaliatory tariffs, a demand China defiantly refused.
The new tariff represents a near-100% increase in just one week. Initially, the US levied a 10% tariff on Chinese goods. Last week, Trump announced a reciprocal tariff policy, matching China’s existing tariffs, bringing the total to 44%. Further escalating the situation, a 10% baseline tariff was imposed across the board due to what the White House called a national security emergency, raising China’s total to 54%. Trump then added a further 50% tariff specifically targeting China, resulting in the unprecedented 104% levy.
China’s commerce ministry responded angrily, calling Trump’s actions “blackmail” and vowing to “fight to the end.” The statement characterized the US’s tariff escalation as a “mistake on top of a mistake.”
Despite the aggressive action, Trump indicated a willingness to negotiate, stating on Truth Social that China “wants to make a deal, badly, but they don’t know how to get it started. We are waiting for their call.”
The dramatic escalation has sent global markets tumbling, creating uncertainty amidst fears of a full-blown trade war between the world’s two largest economies. Neither side appears willing to compromise, leaving the future trajectory of the conflict uncertain.
First Piper 