China to increase tariffs on US goods to 125% from 84% beginning April 12 in response to Trump’s tariffs

by · Paul Tan's Automotive News

After United States president Donald Trump raised tariffs imposed on China to 145% on Thursday (April 10, 2025), which includes the previous fentanyl-based 20% tariff, China has now said it will increase tariffs on US imports from 84% to 125%. According to a release posted by China’s finance ministry today (April 11), the increased rate will come into effect on Saturday (April 12).

“On April 10, 2025, the US government announced that the “reciprocal tariff” on Chinese goods exported to the US would be further increased to 125%. The US’ arbitrary imposition of abnormally high tariffs on China seriously violates international economic and trade rules, disregards the post-World War II global economic order built by the US itself and violates basic economic laws and common sense. It is completely a unilateral bullying and coercion. China strongly condemns this,” the ministry wrote in its release.

“Even if the US continues to impose higher tariffs, it will no longer make economic sense and will become a joke in the history of world economy. At the current tariff level, there is no market acceptance for US goods exported to China. If the US continues to play the tariff numbers game, China will ignore it. However, if the US insists on continuing to substantially infringe on China’s interests, China will resolutely counterattack and fight to the end,” it added.

China had on April 9 announced retaliatory tariffs on US goods totalling 84%, which includes 34% in response to Trump’s reciprocal tariffs and 50% following Trump’s threat of a further 50%. China also has a 10% tariff imposed on agricultural machinery, large-displacements cars as well as pick-up truck imported from the US, effective February 10 this year.

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