China has slapped back an 84 percent retaliatory tariff on the United States, the country’s Office of the Tariff Commission of the State Council announced on Wednesday, April 9.
“If the US insists on further escalating its economic and trade restrictions, China has the firm will and abundant means to take necessary countermeasures and fight to the end,” the Ministry of Commerce wrote in a statement introducing its white paper on trade with the US.
The government declined to say whether it would negotiate with the White House, as many other countries have started doing.
The retaliatory tariffs will apply from April 10 on all US goods. The development comes in the wake of the latest US tariff increase on Chinese goods, raising total levies to over 100 percent, effective today.
Wednesday’s newest measures include adding 11 American companies to a so-called “unreliable entities” list that would bar Chinese companies from selling them dual-use goods. Among the companies are American Photonics, and SYNEXXUS, both of whom work with the American military.
So far, China has not appeared interested in bargaining. “If the US truly wants to resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation, it should adopt an attitude of equality, respect and mutual benefit,” said Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lin Jian on Wednesday, April 9.
Soon after coming to power in January this year, the Trump administration unveiled a sweeping new tariff policy, warning other countries against retaliation. While some nations, like Japan, have shown a willingness to negotiate, China has adopted a more hardline stance.
On April 4, China announced a 34 percent tariff on all goods imported from the US, export controls on rare earths minerals, and a slew of other measures in response to Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs. Trump then added an additional 50 percent tariff on goods from China, saying negotiations with them were terminated.
(With PTI inputs)
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