China launches major trade war response with 34% additional tariffs on US goods in retaliation for Trump's 34% levy

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China will soon impose an additional 34 per cent tariffs on all US imports in a retaliatory move that will cause prices to skyrocket for American consumers.

Beijing announced the measure today, the most serious escalation in a trade war with Trump that has fed fears of a recession and triggered a global stock market rout.

The new tariff, which comes into effect on April 10, matches the rate of the 'reciprocal' 34 per cent levy imposed by Donald Trump this week. The levies are in addition to the existing tariffs already imposed on US goods.

US exports to China totalled $143.5 billion last year, according to Office of the US Trade Representative data. Oilseeds and grains, including soybeans, machinery and aerospace products were America's top exports to the country.

The US imported $438.9 billion worth of goods from China last year, with top imports including electrical and electronic equipment, machinery, toys, and plastics.

Beijing's commerce ministry also said it will impose more export controls on rare earths, which are materials used in high-tech products such as computer chips and electric vehicle batteries.

China added 11 entities to the 'unreliable entity' list, which allows Beijing to take punitive actions against foreign entities. The country also filed a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization (WTO) over sweeping US tariffs imposed on its exports. 

It comes after Trump ignited a potentially ruinous global trade war this week by imposing 10 per cent levies on imports from around the world and harsh extra duties on key trading partners.

Analysts warn the tariffs - which are paid in the first instance by US importers - will likely push up the price of many household items in America and reduce consumers' spending power. 

China will an additional 34 per cent tariffs on all American imports, beginning April 10, in retaliation for Donald Trump's 34 per cent levy. Pictured: Chinese President Xi Jinping during an international business meeting on March 28

 President Donald Trump delivers remarks on tariffs at the White House on Wednesday

Beijing swiftly vowed 'countermeasures' to protect its rights and interests after Washington this week imposed steep new levies on Chinese products. 

'For all imported goods originating from the US, an additional tariff of 34 per cent on top of the current applicable tariff rate will be imposed,' China's Finance Ministry said today.

Beijing's Commerce Ministry also imposed export controls on seven rare earth elements - including samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium and yttrium - to the US, effective April 4.

'The purpose of the Chinese government's implementation of export controls on relevant items in accordance with the law is to better safeguard national security and interests, and to fulfill international obligations such as non-proliferation,' the Commerce Ministry said in a statement.

The Commerce Ministry added: 'China has filed a lawsuit under the WTO dispute settlement mechanism.'

China has been hit particularly hard - the latest salvo adds 34 per cent to a 20 per cent rate imposed last month, bringing the total additional tariffs on imports from the Asian economic powerhouse imposed by this Trump administration to 54 per cent. 

Shoppers may find their favourite electronics, including iPhones, will soon become much pricier due to the tariffs if companies pass the price onto consumers.

Despite moves to expand its supply chain, Apple still makes the vast majority of its iPhones in China, where hardware exports will be hit with a tariff totaling 54 per cent from April 9.  

The cheapest iPhone 16 model was launched in the US with a sticker price of $799, but could cost as much as $1,142, per calculations based on projections from analysts at Rosenblatt Securities, who say the cost could rise by 43 per cent.

A more expensive iPhone 16 Pro Max, which currently retails at $1,599, could cost nearly $2,300 if a 43 per cent increase were to pass to consumers.

The US imported $438.9 billion worth of goods from China last year, with top imports including electrical and electronic equipment, machinery, toys, and plastics. Pictured is a worker in a factory which produces steel machinery for export, in Hangzhou, China on February 21

US exports to China totalled $143.5 billion last year. Oilseeds and grains, including soybeans, machinery and aerospace products were America's top exports to the country. Pictured is a combine harvester cuts, threshes, and cleans soybeans during a harvest in Ohio in 2022

China's new tariffs comes after its Commerce Ministry issued a statement yesterday condemning the US measures as a 'typical act of unilateral bullying'.

Beijing urged the Trump Administration to 'immediately' remove the tariffs and encouraged the US to resolve any disputes through 'fair and equal dialogue'.

Trump's latest tariff hikes on US imports are compelling countries and industries to scramble for footing in a time of potential upheavals in global trade. 

Nations from Canada to China have readied retaliation in an escalating trade war after Trump raised US tariff barriers to their highest level in more than a century this week, leading to a plunge in world financial markets.

As world markets wallowed in more heavy losses today, Taiwan's president promised to provide support to industries most vulnerable to the 32 per cent tariffs Trump ordered in his 'Liberation Day' reciprocal tariffs announcement.

Vietnam said its deputy prime minister would visit the US for talks on trade. 

Some, like the head of the EU's European Commission, have vowed to fight back while promising to improve the rules book for free trade. Others said they were hoping to negotiate with the Trump administration for relief.

In Japan, one of America's top trading partners, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that the tariffs had created a 'national crisis' as a plunge in banking shares today set Tokyo's stock market on course for its worst week in years.

Investment bank JP Morgan said it now sees a 60 per cent chance of the global economy entering recession by year end, up from 40 per cent previously.

Cargo shipping containers are stacked at the Port Authority of Thailand in Bangkok today. Thailand is facing significant economic repercussions following President Trump's 'Liberation Day' announcement, which imposes a 36 per cent reciprocal tariff on Thai exports to the US

European stock markets and global oil prices tanked this morning, extending a rout as investors fret over the impact of Trump's tariffs onslaught. 

Frankfurt's DAX index of blue-chip companies fell as much as five percent after midday while Paris shed four percent and London was down 3.8 percent.

Crude oil prices fell more than five percent, with Brent North Sea, the international benchmark, reaching $66.64 per barrel after already hitting the lowest level since December 2021 while US contract WTI dropped to $63.45.

India was hit by a 26 per cent tariff rate, lower than the 34 per cent for Chinese exports and 46 per cent for Vietnam. 

India's Commerce Ministry that it was 'studying the opportunities that may arise due to this new development in US trade policy.' It said talks were underway on a trade agreement, including 'deepening supply chain integration'.

The US was New Delhi's biggest trading partner in 2024 with two-way trade estimated at $129 billion, according to US data. They have set an ambitious target of more than doubling their bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. 

Most pharmaceuticals and other medicines, important Indian exports to the US, are exempt from the reciprocal tariffs. However, diamonds and other gems, another major export industry, are subject to the higher duties.

Farmers burn an effigy of US President Donald Trump (C, top) and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a protest in Amritsar on April 4, 2025, following Trump's sweeping new tariffs on imports to the US from countries right across the globe

People hold flags and signs as they protest in solidarity with Canada over tariffs policy, near the Canada-US border crossing in Buffalo, New York on April 2

Most US trading partners have emphasised they hope negotiations can help resolve trade friction with Washington. 

In Italy, Premier Giorgia Meloni told state TV she believes the 20 per cent US tariffs on exports from Europe were wrong, but 'it is not the catastrophe that some are making it out to be.' 

Meloni's government planned to meet next week with representatives of affected sectors to formulate plans. 

Japan's leader Ishiba and other governments also said they were preparing countermeasures to help industries cope.

Likewise, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said the EU was consulting with steel and auto makers, pharmaceutical companies and other industries about how to give them more 'breathing space.'