China Hikes Tariffs on U.S. Goods to 125% in Response to Escalating Trade Tensions

Beijing announced on Friday that it will raise tariffs on U.S. imports to 125%, up from the 84% previously set, as the trade dispute between the two economic giants intensifies. The new tariff rate will take effect starting Saturday, according to a statement from China’s Finance Ministry reported by Reuters.

This move comes just a day after the U.S. administration, under President Donald Trump, imposed a steep 145% tariff specifically targeting Chinese goods, despite granting a temporary 90-day suspension on tariffs for several other countries.

China’s Finance Ministry condemned Washington’s action, calling the U.S. tariff hike “unilateral bullying and coercion” and accusing the U.S. of blatantly violating international trade rules, basic economic principles, and common sense.

Earlier this week, the White House ramped up pressure on China — the world’s second-largest economy and a major supplier of U.S. imports — by singling it out for new tariff increases while temporarily halting or easing similar tariffs on dozens of other countries.

In its statement, China urged the U.S. to roll back what it called the “so-called reciprocal tariffs” and to fully correct its “wrongful practices.”

So far, China remains the only nation to launch direct retaliatory measures against the U.S. over the new tariff regime. Adding to the tension, China’s delegation to the World Trade Organization (WTO) confirmed on Friday that Beijing has filed a fresh complaint against the U.S. at the trade body.

“On April 10, the United States issued an Executive Order announcing a further increase of the so-called ‘reciprocal tariff’ on Chinese products,” read a statement from China’s WTO mission. “In response, China has officially complained with the WTO challenging the U.S.’ latest tariff actions,” a spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Commerce added.