China announces extra 34% tariff on all US goods from April 10

China on Friday (April 4) announced an additional 34% tariff on all US imports, effective April 10, 2025, in response to the US government’s recent imposition of reciprocal tariffs on Chinese goods. The State Council Tariff Commission stated that Washington’s actions violate international trade rules and constitute unilateral economic coercion.”In accordance with the Tariff Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Customs Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Foreign Trade Law of the People’s Republic of China and other laws and regulations and the basic principles of international law, and with the approval of the State Council, additional tariffs will be imposed on imported goods originating from the United States from 12:01 on April 10, 2025,” State Council Tariff Commission said.
Under the new directive, all US goods entering China will face the additional tariff on top of existing duties, though current bonded, tax reduction, and exemption policies will remain unchanged. However, goods that have already departed from their origin before the deadline and arrive by May 13, 2025, will be exempt.
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Yesterday, China said it would resolutely adopt countermeasures after President Donald Trump imposed 34% tariffs on its over $438 billion imports to America. Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on Chinese imports on Wednesday as part of sweeping measures aimed at reshaping American trade policy.The Chinese Commerce Ministry hit out hard on Trump’s tariffs on its exports to the US, the third largest after ASEAN and the EU. However, its spokesperson skirted questions about an immediate action by China.

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To questions about the prospect of future trade talks with the US following the latest tariff measures, the ministry said China and the US had been “in communications” on their trade concerns, and would resolve their concerns through “equal dialogues”, the Hong Kong South China Morning Post reported.

Separately, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the US has imposed tariffs on China and many other countries under the pretext of reciprocity. “This gravely violates WTO rules and undermines the rules-based multilateral trading system. China firmly rejects this and will do what is necessary to defend our legitimate rights and interests”, he said.

The US constitutes China’s third biggest export destination after ASEAN and the European Union. The US total goods trade with China was an estimated $582.4 billion in 2024, according to the figures from the Office of the US Trade Representative. US goods exports to China in 2024 were $143.5 billion, while the US imports from China in 2024 totalled $438.9 billion. The US goods trade deficit with China was $295.4 billion in 2024.

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