China Retaliates with 34% Tariff on All U.S. Imports Starting April 10
BANGKOK — In response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recently announced double-digit tariffs, which he dubbed “Liberation Day,” China declared on Friday that it would implement a 34% tariff on all goods imported from the U.S., effective April 10.
This new tariff mirrors the 34% “reciprocal” tariff that Trump imposed earlier in the week on exports from China.
According to a statement from Beijing’s Commerce Ministry, the country will also increase export restrictions on rare earth minerals, which are essential for the manufacturing of advanced technology like computer chips and batteries for electric vehicles.
The export controls will include samarium and its compounds, which are vital in the aerospace and defense sectors. Gadolinium, another element, is used in MRI scanning.
China’s customs authorities have halted chicken imports from certain U.S. suppliers after identifying furazolidone, a substance prohibited in China, in their shipments.
In separate announcements, authorities reported elevated mold levels in sorghum and salmonella contamination in poultry from specific companies. These measures impact one sorghum exporter, C&D Inc., and four poultry producers.
The Chinese government has also added 27 businesses to its lists of entities facing trade sanctions or export restrictions.
Among these, 16 are prohibited from exporting “dual-use” goods. High Point Aerotechnologies, a defense technology firm, and Universal Logistics Holding, a publicly traded transportation and logistics company, are among those listed.
Furthermore, Beijing has initiated a lawsuit at the World Trade Organization to challenge the tariffs.
According to the Commerce Ministry, the U.S.’s implementation of “reciprocal tariffs” severely violates WTO regulations, infringes on the legitimate rights and interests of WTO members, and undermines the multilateral trading system and international economic and trade order based on established rules.
The ministry stated that this is a clear instance of unilateral bullying that threatens the stability of the global economic and trade landscape, which China strongly opposes.
Other actions include launching an anti-monopoly investigation into DuPont China Group Co., a subsidiary of the multinational chemical company, as well as an anti-dumping investigation into X-ray and CT tubes used in CT scanners imported from the U.S. and India.
In February, China announced a 15% tariff on imported coal and liquefied natural gas from the U.S., along with a separate 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery, and cars with large engines.
Dozens of U.S. companies are subject to controls on trade and investment, and a similar number of Chinese companies face restrictions on dealings with U.S. firms.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Finance’s State Council Tariff Commission, the newly announced tariffs will affect all products manufactured in the U.S.
While trade tensions have increased, the overall relationship between the two countries is somewhat less strained.
This week, U.S. and Chinese military officials met in Shanghai for the first time since January when Trump took office to address shared concerns about maritime military safety. Both sides indicated that the discussions, held on Wednesday and Thursday, aimed to minimize the potential for conflict.
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