US President Trump’s latest tariffs took effect just after midnight on Wednesday, hitting nearly all U.S. allies with punishing new levies and raising import taxes on Chinese goods to more than 100 percent.
US media reports says this comes on top of Chinese tariffs that were in place prior to Trump’s second term.
CNN notes that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday that “Countries like China, who have chosen to retaliate and try to double down on their mistreatment of American workers, are making a mistake.” “President Trump has a spine of steel, and he will not break,” she added.
In February, Trump had initially imposed a 10% tariff on all Chinese goods, with no exceptions, tying it to the country’s alleged role in aiding illegal immigration and getting fentanyl into the US. Last month, he doubled those rates.
The New York Times says President Trump’s tariffs are reportedly causing considerable anxiety today in the garment manufacturing district of Guangzhou in southeastern China. According to The New York Times, some American orders have already been canceled, saddling Chinese factories with losses for clothes that were already made. So far, wages have not fallen, as factories continue producing for the domestic Chinese market. But that market is flooded with clothes and prices are falling, so factories find little or no profit in selling to it.
China has said it will continue to take “resolute and forceful” countermeasures as U.S. tariffs kick in.
A spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, Lin Jian, said in response to a question about the tariffs that China would “never accept such arrogant and bullying behavior” and would “definitely retaliate.”
“Trade and tariff wars have no winners, and protectionism leads nowhere… China already said in response that it would resolutely take countermeasures to safeguard Chinese rights and interests,” th spokesman said on Tuesday. .
President Trump's earlier across-the-board 10 percent tariffs on all imports from many countries began on Saturday.
The latest round of duties, which took effect at 12:01 am ET (4:01am GMT), is aimed at countries that, according to Trump, are "ripping off" the US, France 24 reported on April 9, noting that the list includes many of the United States' closest allies, including the European Union, which was hit with a 20 percent tariff as well as industry-specific duties. The 27-member bloc will vote on initial counter-measures later on Wednesday.
