China Matches US Tariffs, Raises Duties To 125%, Calls US Measures A ‘Joke’

In a significant escalation of the ongoing trade tensions, China announced it will raise tariffs on all imports from the United States to 125 per cent, up from the current 84 per cent, starting April 12. The move comes in response to Washington’s continued tariff hikes on Chinese goods, which have reached 145 per cent according to recent statements by the White House.

China’s Ministry of Finance said this measure is intended to match the so-called reciprocal tariffs already levied by the US and to signal Beijing’s firm stance against what it called “economic bullying.”

Beijing: Further US Tariff Hikes Are ‘A Joke’

In a scathing statement, China's Finance and Commerce Ministries dismissed further tariff increases from the US as economically irrelevant. “Even if the US continues to impose higher tariffs, it will no longer make economic sense and will become a joke in the history of world economy,” the Finance Ministry said.

Officials emphasised that at the current level, American goods are effectively priced out of the Chinese market. As a result, Beijing warned that any further US tariff increases would be “ignored,” as they would no longer have a practical impact on trade volumes.

China Warns of Retaliation if Core Interests Are Harmed

While declaring that it would disregard future tariff moves by the US, China also drew a red line. The Commerce Ministry warned that any substantial infringement on China’s core interests would be met with a resolute counterattack. “If the US insists on continuing to substantially infringe on China's interests, China will resolutely counterattack and fight to the end,” the ministry said.

This latest development underscores the deepening rift between the world’s two largest economies, with tariffs increasingly used as a tool of political and economic leverage rather than traditional trade regulation.