WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has dramatically intensified his trade offensive against China, imposing tariffs that now exceed 145% on Chinese imports — a move that surpasses predictions by economists warning of severe disruptions to US-China trade flows.
The latest tariff hike includes a new 125% surcharge aimed at reducing America’s trade deficit with China while retaliating against Beijing’s own countermeasures. This comes on top of a previous 20% duty linked to China’s alleged involvement in fentanyl trafficking, as outlined in a White House memo dated April 10.
These aggressive measures have thrown global markets into fresh turmoil. On April 10, US stocks plunged as investors reeled from the escalation, with the S&P 500 dropping roughly 3.5%. The sell-off followed a brief period of market optimism, quickly replaced by fears of deepening trade conflict.
Trump’s tariff strategy has been marked by unpredictability, with the president frequently revising his approach. Just a day earlier, on April 9, he abruptly delayed imposing new levies on multiple nations, even as he pressed ahead with harsher penalties for China.
Meanwhile, other US trading partners are facing a provisional 10% import tax, designed to create a 90-day window for negotiating bilateral trade agreements. If talks fail, steeper tariffs will take effect on July 9.
American consumers could also feel the pinch as Trump extends higher taxes to smaller parcels from China, targeting popular e-commerce platforms like Temu and SheIn. Imports valued at up to US$800 will now be taxed at 120% of their declared worth — a sharp jump from the previously planned 90%.
Further fee increases are scheduled in the coming months. Between May 2 and June 1, the surcharge on individual parcels will rise to US$100, up from the earlier planned US$75. After June 1, the fee will climb even higher to US$200 per parcel, surpassing the initial projection of US$150.
As tensions continue to escalate, the international business community is bracing for wider fallout from what has become one of the fiercest trade disputes in recent history.