China to impose 34% tariffs on all US imports in retaliation for new trade measures

China announced on April 4 that it will impose reciprocal 34% tariffs on all imports from the United States starting April 10, following a significant escalation of the trade war by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The move comes in response to Washington’s decision, unveiled on April 3, to implement an additional 34% tariff on all Chinese goods entering the U.S., Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The sweeping measure is widely seen as a major reset in the economic relationship between the world’s two largest economies and is expected to heighten already simmering tensions.

The announcement came one day after China’s Ministry of Commerce condemned the U.S. measures, calling them a threat to the international trade system built through years of multilateral cooperation.

In a statement announcing its retaliatory measures, China’s State Council Tariff Commission said:
“This practice of the US is not in line with international trade rules, seriously undermines China’s legitimate rights and interests, and is a typical unilateral bullying practice.”

The Chinese government further signaled that the tariffs would be part of a broader package of countermeasures. In addition to the new import duties, Beijing has placed export controls on 16 American companies and suspended export eligibility for six U.S.-linked firms. China will also impose new restrictions on the exports of certain rare earth minerals, resources critical to global high-tech industries.

Earlier this week, President Trump indicated a possible willingness to negotiate a deal, reportedly linking potential relief to Beijing’s approval of the sale of the social media platform TikTok.

Trump, who returned to office in January, had already imposed two rounds of 10% additional duties on all Chinese imports earlier this year. According to the White House, these tariffs were introduced to curb the flow of illicit fentanyl from China to the United States. With the new measures in place, Chinese products entering the U.S. will face an effective tariff rate of 54%.

By Tamilla Hasanova