After China did not withdraw its countermeasures, the White House announced that it would increase tariffs on China by 104%, and China's countermeasures are imminent.

Local time on April 8, White House Press Secretary Leavitt stated that the United States will impose an additional 50% tariff on China starting at 00:01 local time on April 9 (12:01 PM Beijing Time). Combined with previous US tariffs on Chinese goods, this means that by then, the US will have cumulatively levied a 104% tariff on China.

According to the US side, this is part of "reciprocal tariffs." Originally, the US planned to impose a 34% tariff on China on the 9th. However, since China did not accept Trump's request to withdraw countermeasures on the 8th, the US will impose an additional 50% tariff on top of the existing 34% tariff on China.

It should be noted that the day before, on the 7th, Trump posted on social media stating that the US requested China to withdraw the 34% tariff on American goods by the 8th, or else an additional 50% tariff would be imposed from the 9th. In response, Trump received a concise reply from China in four words: "We will see it through."

In the face of China's firm stance, Leavitt claimed that China's choice to retaliate against the US was a wrong move, while emphasizing that Trump would not easily back down. She also added, "If China is willing to negotiate, Trump will be very grateful." On the same day, Trump also posted on social media, saying, "The US is waiting for a call from China, and he believes it will happen."

It is worth noting that before Trump made these remarks, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had just spoken with high-level Chinese officials, calling for negotiations between China and the US regarding tariff issues. In response, China emphasized during the phone call that "China's macroeconomic policies fully consider various uncertainties and have sufficient reserve policy tools, which are fully capable of offsetting external adverse impacts."

Some analysts believe that once the 50% tariff increase by the US on China takes effect, it will push the tariff war into a more dangerous territory, posing a significant risk of a sharp decline in global trade. Moreover, this move will lead to higher living costs for American citizens, thereby exacerbating inflation. More importantly, facing the continuous escalation of tariffs by the US, China's countermeasures are imminent.

There are reports that China may initiate countermeasures in multiple areas. For example, significantly increasing tariffs on US soybeans, sorghum, and other agricultural products. Statistics show that China was once the largest overseas market for US agricultural products. However, in 2024, US agricultural exports to China dropped to over $29 billion, compared to $42.8 billion in 2022, showing a severe decline. If China increases taxes again, American agricultural products will face even greater difficulties.

Moreover, there is a possibility of suspending Sino-US cooperation on fentanyl. China has done a lot of work on the fentanyl issue, but the result has been the US escalating its actions further. The Trump administration not only blamed China for the rampant fentanyl problem in the US but also used it as a reason to impose two rounds of tariffs on Chinese goods. Now, with the US announcing an additional 50% tariff on China, sources reveal that China is considering halting cooperation with the US on fentanyl.

Of course, apart from these two major countermeasures, others include banning the import of American films and prohibiting poultry meat imports from the US. Overall, unlike other countries affected by tariffs, China has been engaged in an eight-year trade war with the US and naturally understands the套路of the Trump administration. During Trump's first term, multiple rounds of tariffs and negotiations took place between China and the US, but ultimately, the US did not achieve its expected results.

Now that Trump has returned, China naturally has more confidence to handle the situation. Some analysts pointed out that in the face of the US "reciprocal tariff," the faster a country surrenders, the more severely it will be exploited by the US. Why do we say so? Because after giving up resistance, lacking negotiation chips, they will naturally be at the mercy of the US. In this way, even if they sit at the negotiating table, they can only become fish on the chopping block, ready to be carved up.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7491096340195033650/

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