Beijing Vows to ‘Fight to the End’ as Trump Threatens Additional 50% Tariffs on Chinese Imports
The trade tensions between the United States and China escalated sharply after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose an additional 50% in tariffs on all Chinese imports, prompting a fierce response from Beijing.
China’s Ministry of Commerce declared it would “fight to the end” if the U.S. proceeds with the tariff hike. “The U.S. threat to escalate tariffs on China is a mistake on top of a mistake,” the ministry said in a statement. “If the U.S. insists on its own way, China will fight to the end.” It also called for disputes to be resolved through equal dialogue and mutual respect.
The current standoff follows a series of tit-for-tat tariff increases. Last Wednesday, the U.S. announced a new round of tariffs, including a 34% levy on Chinese goods. In retaliation, China imposed an equivalent 34% tariff on American imports two days later.
On Monday, Trump escalated the pressure, warning that unless China withdraws its retaliatory tariffs by April 8th, the U.S. would impose an additional 50% in tariffs starting April 9th. “If China does not withdraw its 34% increase above their already long-term trading abuses by tomorrow, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50%,” he wrote on social media.
If enforced, the new tariffs would bring the total U.S. tariff burden on Chinese goods to a staggering 124%, combining the existing 20% tariffs, the recently announced 34%, and the threatened 50%.
While the Chinese government has reiterated its willingness to talk, both sides appear to be digging in, showing little appetite for compromise.
In a related development, Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he was not considering a pause on the planned tariffs, although he remained open to negotiations. At a press conference, he also rejected the European Union’s offer of zero tariffs on cars and industrial goods. “The European Union’s been very bad to us,” Trump said. “They’re going to have to buy their energy from us… We can knock off $350 billion in one week.”
Meanwhile, the EU has backed off a plan to impose 50% retaliatory tariffs on American whiskey, instead proposing 25% tariffs on a range of U.S. goods as a countermeasure to Trump’s 25% levies on steel and aluminum imports.
