China wasted no time in responding to the reciprocal tariffs announced by United States president Donald Trump on Wednesday (April 2, 2025). On Friday (April 4), China announced an additional tariff of 34% on goods imported from the US, matching the tariff rate imposed by the US.
However, the true tariff rate that the US is imposing on China is 54% because it stacks on top of the existing 20% announced earlier. According to Bloomberg, China’s average tariff on US goods stood at 17.8%, less than the 32.8% the US charged on Chinese goods
“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,” China’s state council tariff commission said in a statement. The 34% tariff that China is imposing on the US will come into effect beginning April 10.
Additionally, China also added 11 American companies to its “unreliable entity list,” which are now subject to punitive actions. Export controls were also placed on 16 American companies to prohibit the export of Chinese dual-use items (goods which can be used for both civil and military applications). It doesn’t stop there, as China also unveiled export controls on seven types of rare-earth minerals to the US.
China’s retaliation against the latest round of US tariffs is more far-reaching that what it had done previously. Back in February, China responded to Trump’s initial round of tariffs by taxing agricultural machinery, large-displacements cars as well as pick-up trucks. Additionally, certain types of coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG), along crude oil, were also subject to tariffs.
Following China’s tariff retaliation, Trump took to his own social media platform – Truth Social – to say China “played it wrong” and that “they panicked.” He also vowed that his economic policies “will never change,” reports Bloomberg.
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