China decided to increase tariffs on American goods in response to Donald Trump’s steep import duties. Officials said the new 84% tariffs up from the earlier 34% would begin on April 10. The Chinese finance ministry confirmed this.

China Expands Its Blacklist

China’s commerce ministry also expanded its trade restrictions. Authorities revealed that 12 American firms had been added to an export control list. Additionally, they placed 6 US companies on what they called an “unreliable entity” list. These steps aimed to tighten control over business operations between both countries.

US Markets React Quickly

After China’s announcement, US stock futures dropped sharply. Market watchers said the drop showed how seriously investors viewed the trade tensions. In response to China's move, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the new tariffs unfortunate. He urged Beijing to stop delaying talks. He also encouraged Chinese officials to join the discussion table to resolve the dispute.

Trump Imposed Massive Tariffs First

Just a day before, US President Donald Trump had ordered a 104% tariff on Chinese goods. The White House press secretary said the new tax would be collected from April 9. According to Trump, this action came after he waited for a response from China. He had earlier warned that if Beijing retaliated, he would increase the tariff beyond 100%.

China Had Already Planned Countermeasures

A few days earlier, China had announced its own countermeasures. Officials said they would impose a 34% tariff on all US imports starting April 10. They also revealed plans to limit exports of medium and heavy rare earth materials, which are essential for producing high-tech items like computer chips and electric vehicle batteries. In a statement, China’s commerce ministry said the export controls aimed to protect national interests and fulfill international obligations, including those related to non-proliferation.

Trump Downplayed the Threat

After China’s earlier announcement, Trump commented that the country “panicked.” On his Truth Social platform, he claimed that China had played it wrong and insisted that Beijing could not afford to take such steps.

China Promises Strong Pushback

After raising tariffs to 84%, China made its position clear. Officials warned that if the US continued to tighten economic restrictions, Beijing would take all necessary countermeasures. The commerce ministry stated that China had enough resources and determination to “fight to the end.”

China Remains Silent on Talks

So far, Chinese authorities have not said whether they will negotiate with the US, even though other countries are already holding talks with the White House. Chinese Premier Li Qiang said his country had enough policy tools to handle the impact of foreign pressure. He believed that China could fully absorb any negative effects from Trump’s tariffs. He also shared optimism about China’s economic growth for 2025.