China Raises Tariffs on U.S. Goods to 125%, Slams Trump Strategy as ‘Unilateral Bullying’

 

China Slaps 125% Tariff on U.S. Goods

China Raises Tariffs on U.S. Goods to 125%, Slams Trump Strategy as ‘Unilateral Bullying’

DECK
Beijing escalates trade tensions with steep tariff hike, denounces U.S. actions as coercive, and signals a halt to tit-for-tat responses amid broader diplomatic outreach.

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KEY FACTS 

• What: China hikes tariffs on U.S. goods to 125% in response to recent U.S. tariff increases.

• Where: Beijing, China.

• When: Friday, April 11.

• Why: As retaliation against what China calls unilateral and excessive U.S. trade measures.

• How: China's Finance Ministry labels the U.S. approach as coercive and economically irrational.

• Response: Beijing will not match future U.S. tariff hikes but reserves the right to retaliate in other forms.

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SITUATION SNAPSHOT 
Beijing delivered a sharp blow to Washington’s trade offensive on Friday, imposing fresh duties that bring tariffs on American imports to 125%. The capital's official corridors buzzed with urgency as China issued statements condemning the U.S.'s tactics and warning that future tariff increases would be economically meaningless and historically laughable.

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WHAT WE KNOW 
China’s Finance Ministry minced no words in its condemnation:

"The U.S. side's imposition of excessively high tariffs on China seriously violates international economic and trade rules, runs counter to basic economic principles and common sense, and is simply an act of unilateral bullying and coercion," the ministry stated.

The retaliatory increase follows President Trump’s move earlier this week to raise tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%, while exempting several other nations for 90 days. In response, Beijing indicated this would be its final reciprocal measure in the tariff war:

"Even if the U.S. continues to impose even higher tariffs, it would no longer have any economic significance and would go down as a joke in the history of world economics,"
"If the U.S. continues to play a numbers game with tariffs, China will not respond."

Though opting out of further tariff escalations, China left the door open for other forms of retaliation. On Thursday, it announced immediate restrictions on Hollywood film imports and issued travel and study advisories targeting the U.S., particularly the state of Ohio.
UBS analysts noted this pivot as an admission that bilateral trade has effectively collapsed:

"An acknowledgement that trade between the two countries has essentially been completely severed."

Both nations now levy tariffs on nearly 100% of each other’s imports. After China’s latest action, the share of taxed trade rose from 63% to full coverage, closely mirroring the U.S.’s expansion from 67% in February.
The Peterson Institute for International Economics reports that average U.S. tariffs on Chinese exports now stand at 135%—a staggering increase from pre-trade war levels in 2018.

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WHAT’S NEXT 
China has clearly signaled a pause on tariff retaliation but may employ alternative methods of pressure.
President Xi Jinping is expected to begin a diplomatic tour across Southeast Asia next week, aiming to bolster ties with regional allies like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia.
Eric Orlander, co-founder of the China-Global South Project, said that while major trade pacts are unlikely, "China's best offer to Vietnam is stability. Don't underestimate how important that is at a time like this."

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VOICES ON THE GROUND 

"Even if the U.S. continues to impose even higher tariffs, it would no longer have any economic significance and would go down as a joke in the history of world economics," — China's Finance Ministry.
"This back-and-forth is making U.S. products unaffordable and killing our margins," — Chinese electronics importer in Guangdong.
"China remains open to negotiations with the U.S., but threatening and pressuring are not the right way to engage with China," — Chinese Commerce Ministry.

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CONTEXT 
This round of economic brinkmanship further strains already fractured U.S.-China trade ties, with economists warning that average duties beyond 35% make imports commercially nonviable.
The tit-for-tat actions mark a dangerous climax in a trade war that began in 2018, with both sides now imposing tariffs on virtually all traded goods.
Beijing is pivoting to broader international engagement, seeking support from the EU, ASEAN, BRICS, and Gulf nations.
President Xi urged cooperation during a meeting with Spain’s Prime Minister, emphasizing the need to “jointly oppose unilateral acts of bullying.” China and the EU have agreed to resume stalled trade talks and begin immediate discussions on electric vehicle pricing.

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REPORTER INSIGHT
From Beijing, the mood is one of fierce determination balanced with diplomatic poise. While tariffs make headlines, China’s pivot to coalition-building may be the longer-lasting story. The air in the capital is thick with tension—but also with resolve.