President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to Beijing, threatening to impose a sweeping 50% tariff on all Chinese imports if China does not reverse its recent retaliatory measures by Tuesday, April 8, 2025.
Taking to his Truth Social platform on Monday, the U.S. President denounced China’s decision to raise tariffs by 34% on American goods and warned of immediate consequences if the move is not withdrawn.
“If China does not withdraw its 34% increase above their already long-term trade abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose additional tariffs on China of 50 percent effective April 9th,” Trump declared.
In a follow-up post, Trump threatened to suspend all ongoing trade negotiations with China if the tariffs remain.
“Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated!” he added.
China Responds: ‘Typical Unilateral Bullying’
The sharp escalation follows Beijing’s retaliatory tariff hikes on U.S. imports last Friday. In response, China’s State Council Tariff Commission condemned Washington’s trade strategy as a “typical unilateral bullying practice.” According to the Daily Mail, it accused the U.S. of flouting international trade norms.
Visibly frustrated, Trump hit back over the weekend, claiming China had “panicked” in response to the growing economic pressure.
“China played it wrong, they panicked — the one thing they cannot afford to do!” he wrote.
Treasury Secretary Defends Aggressive Trade Strategy
Despite mounting concerns over Wall Street turbulence, marked by three consecutive days of market losses, Trump’s administration has stood firm. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the president’s approach, calling the tariffs necessary to rebalance the long-standing trade deficit with China.
“I don’t know if they can retaliate,” Bessent said. “Over the next few years, they may have to come around because I think their business model is broken. I think President Donald has broken their business model with these tariffs.”
The White House has positioned the looming 50% tariff as a long-term strategy to protect American industries, even as short-term economic fallout rattles global markets.
Trade War Intensifies as Global Tensions Mount
As the U.S.-China trade war enters a volatile new phase, global investors and diplomatic observers are bracing for more instability. With Tuesday’s deadline looming, the international community is watching closely to see whether Beijing will back down—or if President Trump will follow through on one of modern history’s most significant tariff increases.
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