Islamabad, Apr 5, 2025: China Hits US once again as Beijing unveils a strong set of countermeasures in response to the latest wave of tariffs imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The situation has rapidly intensified, with China slapping a massive 34% additional tariff on American products, on top of the already-existing 20% duty, bringing the overall tariff burden to a steep 54%. These retaliatory steps signal a dramatic turn in the ongoing trade dispute between the world’s two largest economies.
On Friday, China’s Ministry of Finance declared that these fresh levies would officially come into force from April 10. This marks another firm step by China to push back against U.S.
Actions that it perceives as aggressive and damaging to global trade norms. Earlier, Beijing had already imposed a 15% duty on U.S. imports such as coal and liquefied natural gas, which was a direct response to Washington’s earlier sanctions.
READ MORE:
South Korean President Removed from Office by Constitutional Court
In a move that adds further complexity, China introduced stringent export restrictions on vital rare earth elements, including terbium, dysprosium, samarium, and scandium. These minerals are critical for the production of various high-tech goods.
From smartphones to military hardware. Beijing justified these curbs by stating that the measures aim to safeguard national security and adhere to international responsibilities, such as non-proliferation.
China Hits US with a second blow by initiating an official complaint at the World Trade Organization (WTO), claiming the U.S. tariffs breach established trade rules.
China’s Permanent Mission to the WTO emphasized that it had sought consultations over what it labeled unjust trade practices by the United States.
Beijing also moved swiftly to penalize specific American firms. It added 16 U.S. companies to its export control list, restricting the flow of goods to these organizations. Additionally, 11 more were placed on China’s “unreliable entities” list.
Among them were drone manufacturers Skydio Inc and BRINC Drones, penalized over their military dealings with Taiwan an island China regards as its own territory.
According to the Chinese Commerce Ministry, these firms severely harmed China’s sovereignty and would now face investment and trade bans within the country.
READ MORE:
Germany Shuts Down Major Dark Web Platform
Agriculture was not spared either. China suspended the import of sorghum from C&D (USA) Inc., along with poultry and bonemeal from three other American suppliers.
Further economic pressure looms as China launched an anti-dumping investigation into medical CT tube imports from both the U.S. and India, citing possible threats to domestic competitiveness.
China Hits US yet again as financial markets worldwide reacted nervously. U.S. stock futures dropped sharply, with key tech giants like Apple and Nvidia suffering due to their strong manufacturing ties to China and Taiwan.
Tokyo’s stock market had its worst week in years, and European indices followed suit, shedding years of growth in just days.
Despite the economic ripple effects, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed the notion of an economic crash. Speaking in Brussels, he said, “Markets are reacting to a global shift in trade dynamics they will stabilize over time.”
As the trade rift deepens, the global economy braces for further disruption. What began as a tariff skirmish has now evolved into a full-fledged economic standoff, with no clear resolution in sight.
