Washington:
Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, which was meant to impose levies against all those who tariff US goods, has taken a fresh turn. It has evolved into a slugfest between China and the United States, with Washington now imposing a massive 125 per cent tax on all Chinese goods.
Announcing this on his social media platform Truth Social, President Trump said that while China will have to bear the brunt of 125 per cent tariffs, Washington has put a 90-day pause on the other 75 countries against whom reciprocal tariffs were imposed on April 2.
Slamming China for its “lack of respect” shown to world’s markets, President Trump intensified his punishing tariffs against the world’s second-largest economy. “Based on the lack of respect that China has shown to the World’s Markets, I am hereby raising the Tariff charged to China by the United States of America to 125%, effective immediately,” he wrote.
Reiterating his criticism of China for “robbing” and “ripping off” the United States’ economy for decades with its punitive tariff structures, unfair trade practices, currency manipulation tactics, and unjustified subsidy norms, President Trump wrote that “At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the USA, and other countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable.”
While putting China in the corner, Donald Trump gave respite to the 75 other nations that he had imposed “discounted reciprocal tariffs” on last week, saying that he has ordered an immediate pause on such levies after seeing a humble and proactive approach by these nations in trying to resolve the trade imbalance with the United States.
Complementing the 75 other nations for “not retaliating in any way” and instead, respecting his suggestions, he wrote, “Conversely, and based on the fact that more than 75 Countries have called Representatives of the United States, including the Departments of Commerce, Treasury, and the USTR, to negotiate a solution to the subjects being discussed relative to Trade, Trade Barriers, Tariffs, Currency Manipulation, and Non Monetary Tariffs, and that these Countries have not, at my strong suggestion, retaliated in any way, shape, or form against the United States, I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%, also effective immediately.”
