President Donald Trump issued a strong warning to China on Monday, threatening to impose a 50% tariff increase on Chinese goods if Beijing does not reverse its recently announced 34% retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports.
The move follows China’s response to Trump’s own tariff declarations, which he referred to as the “Liberation Day” tariffs. Trump posted a detailed statement on his social media platform, Truth Social, claiming that China’s new tariffs added to what he described as a long list of trade abuses, including high existing tariffs, non-tariff barriers, unlawful subsidies, and currency manipulation.
“China issued Retaliatory Tariffs of 34%, on top of their already record-setting Tariffs, Non-Monetary Tariffs, Illegal Subsidization of companies, and massive long-term Currency Manipulation,” Trump wrote. “Despite my warning… any country that retaliates with additional Tariffs will be immediately met with new and substantially higher Tariffs.”
He continued, warning that if China does not reverse the new 34% tariff increase by Tuesday, April 8, the U.S. will respond the following day: “The United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50%, effective April 9.” Trump also threatened to cut off all trade negotiations with China, saying talks would be terminated and that discussions would instead begin with other nations.
Trump has long criticized China’s trade practices, calling the country the “biggest abuser of them all.” On Monday, he claimed the U.S. economy was performing well despite rising tensions and tariffs. “Oil prices are down, interest rates are down (the slow moving Fed should cut rates!), food prices are down, there is NO INFLATION,” he wrote, adding that the U.S. is “bringing in billions of dollars a week from the abusing countries.”
He accused past American leaders of allowing foreign countries to take advantage of the U.S. through lopsided trade policies. “They’ve made enough, for decades, taking advantage of the Good OL’ USA,” Trump said. “Our past ‘leaders’ are to blame… MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
The president also shared details of a recent conversation with Japan’s Prime Minister, claiming that Tokyo had treated the U.S. unfairly on trade. “They don’t take our cars, but we take MILLIONS of theirs. Likewise Agriculture, and many other ‘things.’ It all has to change, but especially with CHINA!!!”
China’s foreign ministry responded sharply to Trump’s escalating rhetoric and policy announcements over the weekend. In a strongly worded statement, Beijing accused the U.S. of economic coercion and criticized its approach to international trade.
“By taking such action, the United States defies the fundamental laws of economics and market principles,” the ministry said. “This is a typical act of unilateralism, protectionism, and economic bullying.”
The statement accused Washington of using tariffs as a weapon to push its own agenda under the pretense of fairness and reciprocity. It also warned that such actions threaten to destabilize the global trade system and undermine the interests of other countries.
“This is a zero-sum game,” the statement read, “advancing U.S. hegemonic ambitions at the cost of the legitimate interests of all countries. Such action will inevitably face widespread opposition from the international community.”
China’s 34% retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods are scheduled to take effect on Thursday, April 10. A commentary in The People’s Daily, the official newspaper of China’s Communist Party, attempted to downplay the impact of the U.S. tariffs, stating “the sky won’t fall,” and emphasizing that China “has tools at its disposal” to respond effectively.
Analysts also noted that Beijing’s firm stance suggests that hopes for a short-term resolution to the trade conflict are fading. A report by Teneo, cited by CNBC, said China’s increasingly confrontational response signals “diminished hopes for a trade deal with the U.S., at least in the short term.”