TRUMP PILES ON TARIFFS, Beijing’s Refusal to Back Down Triggers 104% U.S. Tariff Hike

|By Adejumo Adekunle-

WASHINGTON — The White House has announced a dramatic escalation in trade tensions, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration prepares to hike tariffs on Chinese imports to a staggering 104%—a retaliatory move set to take effect tonight at midnight.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, addressing reporters on Tuesday, said the decision comes after Beijing failed to withdraw its retaliatory tariffs on American exports.

“It was a mistake for China to retaliate,” Leavitt declared. “When America is punched, [the president] punches back harder. That is why there will be 104% tariffs going into effect on China tonight at midnight.”

The new tariffs mark a sharp escalation in the ongoing trade war, with Trump layering multiple waves of duties in recent weeks.

Previous Tariffs Already in Motion

Just last week, Trump rolled out a 10% blanket tariff on all imports, while Chinese goods faced an initial 20% duty, topped by a further 34% hike—a response to what the White House described as China’s long-standing trade imbalance with the U.S.

But the standoff deepened on Monday, after Beijing imposed a 34% tariff on U.S. goods. In response, Trump ordered an additional 50% tariff on Chinese imports, raising total levies to an unprecedented 104%.

The latest hike underscores Trump’s aggressive stance ahead of key trade negotiations, signaling that the administration will not tolerate economic pushback from Beijing.