China raises tariffs on US products to 125%

In a new escalation between the world's two largest economies, Chinese President Xi Jinping will increase customs tariffs starting this Saturday in response to those imposed by the United States.

China announced on Friday (11.04.2025) that it will increase tariffs on all US imports from 84% to 125% in response to the new tariff package approved by Washington.

"The United States has ignored the global economic order it helped build after World War II," the statement said, adding that China "strongly condemns" the latest measures and that its patience has limits. "If Washington insists on inflicting substantial damage on China's interests, China will respond firmly and support it to the end," the official statement said.

Despite the harsh tone, Beijing clarified that the tariffs have already left US products without a real market in China, so any further increases will be economically insignificant, irrelevant, and "will end up becoming a mockery in the history of the global economy," according to the statement.

This measure comes two days after Beijing raised tariffs on US products from 34% to 84%, in retaliation for the 50% tariff Trump previously imposed on Chinese goods. Washington responded by further increasing tariffs to 125%, which, combined with previous charges, leaves a cumulative tax burden on Chinese imports of 145%.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian's said Friday that his country "does not want a trade war, but is not afraid of it," urging Washington to "lower the pressure" if it truly seeks to resolve tensions "through dialogue." According to Lin, Beijing's countermeasures "not only protect its own legitimate interests, but also safeguard the international order and the rights of all countries affected by US unilateralism."

China has already warned that it will not allow unequal conditions to be imposed on it in future negotiations and that any dialogue "must be based on equality and mutual respect."