The White House said China is now facing up to a 245 percent tariff on imports to the U.S. “as a result of its retaliatory actions,” another escalation in a trade war between the world’s two largest economies.
The top potential tariff is higher than the previously stated 145 percent and was referenced in a fact sheet published by the White House late on Tuesday.
It accompanied an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that launched an investigation into the “national security risks posed by U.S. reliance on imported processed critical minerals and their derivative products.”
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian was asked about the 245 percent rate at a press briefing on Wednesday. “You can ask the U.S. side for the specific tax rate figures,” Lin said, China News Network reported.
“This tariff war was initiated by the United States, and China’s necessary countermeasures are to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests and international fairness and justice, which are completely reasonable and lawful.”
Trump imposed a 10 percent tariff on imports from all countries. He has temporarily paused additional “reciprocal” rates set individually for each country depending on the trade barriers faced by the U.S. to allow time for negotiations on new deals.
The exception to that pause is China, which is facing increasingly higher tariffs from the U.S. and has responded in kind, among other countermeasures.
This week, China imposed more export controls on rare earths, which include materials used in high-tech products, aerospace manufacturing, and the defense sector.
Despite the eye-watering tariffs and tough rhetoric, both the U.S. and China have said they are open to talks on trade, though further tit-for-tat retaliation is likely in this conflict between two great powers.
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China doesn’t face a 245% tariff. Us US individuals and small businesses face a 245% tariff.
Sure, but this lowers US consumer demand for goods produced in China, giving the PRC motivation to seek increased economic ties elsewhere. China is negatively impacted by this in the short term, though they are better equipped to handle it due to actually holding the productive forces in the equation.
It lowers the ability for Americans to pay for those goods. China might be affected, but the Americans are getting screwed.
Sure, I agree that the US is fighting a losing battle and that the US Working Class will end up paying the most for it.
The Chinese economy is not a pond, but an ocean. The ocean may have its calm days, but big winds and storms are only to be expected. Without them, the ocean wouldn’t be what it is. Big winds and storms may upset a pond, but never an ocean. Having experienced numerous winds and storms the ocean will still be there. It’s the same for China. After going through 5,000 years of trials and tribulations China is still here. Looking ahead China will always be here to stay.
-President Xi Jinping
I also really like Democracy is not an Ornament and Water Droplets Drilling Through Rock.
When I describe my awe upon seeing the power of droplets drilling through rock, I am praising those who have the willingness to rise each time one falls, and the moral character to sacrifice for overall success. I am expressing my admiration for those who develop a solid plan and then have the tenacity to see it through to the end.
Thanks for sharing this, this is cool. If Xi Jinping were not a political leader, I think he would be a poet. (Assuming he writes his own speeches, if not, whoever is amazing.)
Yep! He probably has some help, but many Chinese write in similarly flowery ways, especially those who rise through the ranks of the CPC due to how its structured.
He has a political advisor who helped him develop his thought and helped him write the book.
Will probably see further movements from the PRC to sell off US treasury bonds and shifting more away from the dollar in general, along with tighter export restrictions on rare Earth.
What would be incredibly based is if the PRC starts paying off loans in Africa with its dollars, decoupling the Global South from the US even further. Gets rid of dollars and debt in the Global South, potentially freeing up new customers for goods produced in China and strengthening ties.
Why doesn’t he just make them infinity percent? You know, like the way children use the idea of infinity.
I dare you. I double dare you. I dare you times 100. I dare you times infinity.
i am not sure what else the us thinks it can leverage to demand that high of a tarriff.
i’ve read trump say china needs us demand and consumption. i haven’t seen any facts and numbers to back that up.
It’s not insignificant by any stretch, but China was far more reliant on the US in the past. That’s why they have been building up the Belt and Road Initiative and BRICs, to build up alternative customers in case the US ever made a hard pivot. The PRC is more than willing to ride the gravy train of US money flowing in for as long as it can last, as they can spend that time building up alternative customers, but had this been the 90s this very well may have worked for Trump. Too little too late, though.
good point with the belt and road initiative as well as brics!
Thanks! That’s really been China’s whole strategy this time since Deng, rapidly improve the productive forces as quickly as possible and never be overly reliant on any ties, especially not the US, as the US is firmly anti-communist and will eventually make a hard break with the PRC (the US thought it would go the same way as the USSR to Russian Federation, which ended up being false).
The PRC isn’t doing BRICS and BRI for charity, nor for Imperialist control either. It’s doing it for customers, which it needs in the long run in order to not be isolated and reliant on the US.
Exports to US account for roughly 2% of China’s economy, it’s clearly not significant for China
That’s 245%. Anyone else? 245% going, going, gone. Sold for 245%! Next!
just do a trade embargo at this point 🤣
China’s already said they wouldn’t retaliate with tariffs anymore, so I wonder what their response will be.
More export controls on rare earths, or maybe selling off US treasury bonds?
The US literally thinks they’re invincible. The fallout when reality finally hits them will be delicious.
October 2025: China will now face an ungabatillion percent tarrif! We can keep this going all day!
Are these tariffs even being implemented or are they just “announced”? I can only imagine the chaos that customs workers must be going through.
Edit: Found an answer to my own question. It starts on may 2.
He still doesn’t realize how tariffs work.
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This is all a front so Trump can claim he is hard on China. In reality, China bought a ton of his crypto with an agreement to implement tariffs. Trump only cares about lining his pocket and demonstrating power. This achieves both.
Source?
