In reaction to Trump’s severe ultimatum, Beijing issued a warning on Tuesday, indicating its intention to implement “resolute countermeasures” against the proposed 50 percent tariff increase on Chinese imports, asserting its commitment to “safeguard its own rights and interests.” The Chinese Commerce Ministry characterized the U.S. imposition of what it termed “reciprocal tariffs” as “completely unfounded” and a prime example of unilateral coercion, as reported by the Associated Press. Beijing defended its planned countermeasures as “entirely legitimate,” stating that the U.S. threat to escalate tariffs represents a compounded error that reveals the coercive tactics employed by the U.S. government. China firmly declared its refusal to accept such actions, warning that if the U.S. persists in its approach, China will respond resolutely. The Chinese government emphasized that these countermeasures are designed to protect its sovereignty, security, and developmental interests while striving to maintain balance in the international trade framework.
Trump threatened to impose additional tariffs on China, stating that if China does not retract its 34 percent increase in trade abuses by April 8, 2025, the U.S. would enact a 50 percent tariff effective April 9. Trump’s position on China appears to be at odds with his efforts to utilize China’s influence over Russia to facilitate an end to the Ukraine conflict, acknowledging China’s considerable diplomatic leverage with President Vladimir Putin. His aggressive tariff policy has caused significant turmoil in global markets, leading to a dramatic drop of over 1,300 points in the Dow Jones Industrial Average in a single day. Nevertheless, Asian markets rebounded on Tuesday, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 index rising by 5.5% after experiencing a nearly 8% decline the previous day, following a tumultuous trading session on Wall Street triggered by Trump’s tariff threats.
