- China retaliated with 34% tariffs on U.S. goods after Trump announced identical tariffs earlier this week.
- Trump defended his tariff plan, claiming it will rebuild U.S. industry and restore the American dream.
- Critics warn the trade war could raise consumer prices and trigger economic fallout, but the White House insists the plan will succeed.
Just two days after President Donald Trump rolled out his sweeping new tariff strategy, China fired back Friday with its own move: 34% tariffs on U.S. imports, set to kick in April 10. The move mirrors Trump’s own levy against China announced under his “reciprocal” plan, further stoking global trade tensions.
On Truth Social, Trump blasted the response, writing: “China played it wrong, they panicked — the one thing they cannot afford to do.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun wasn’t having it. During a press conference in Beijing, he accused the U.S. of violating World Trade Organization rules and trying to “undermine the multilateral trading system.” Guo added, “Trade and tariff wars have no winners. Protectionism leads nowhere.”
No Backing Down
Wednesday’s 34% tariff announcement comes on top of the 20% tariffs already slapped on Chinese goods by the Trump administration. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) defended the policy on Fox Business:
“Yes, it’s bumpy. But this is about fairness and America first. We’ve been getting the short end of the stick for years.”
Van Drew added that he spoke with Trump directly and claimed countries are already signaling willingness to strike new deals. “Wall Street will bounce back,” he said. “But this is about Main Street too—it’s about making things here, in America.”
Trump’s Big Pitch
At his “Make America Wealthy Again” event in the White House Rose Garden, Trump leaned into his economic vision. He promised the plan would rebuild U.S. industry and bring back lost jobs, calling it a long-overdue revival of the American dream.
“We watched as foreign leaders stole our jobs… Now it’s our turn to prosper,” he said. “Factories and jobs will roar back. It’s already starting. We’ll use trillions in new revenue to lower taxes and pay down the debt.”
Meanwhile, questions are rising about the impact of all this on American consumers. Will it mean higher prices? Slower growth? White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt brushed those worries off earlier in the week, insisting: “The plan is going to work.”
