President Donald Trump is set to impose tariffs totaling at least 104% on all Chinese imports starting Wednesday, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
These new levies add to existing tariffs in place before Trump began his second term in office.
China was initially scheduled to face a 34% tariff hike under Trump’s “reciprocal” trade policy. However, the administration announced an additional 50% increase after Beijing reiterated its plan to impose 34% retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods by noon Tuesday. Combined, this results in a dramatic 84% jump, bringing the total U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods to over 100%.
“Countries like China, who have chosen to retaliate and try to double down on their mistreatment of American workers, are making a mistake,” said Leavitt. “President Trump has a spine of steel, and he will not break.”
Leavitt claimed that China “wants to make a deal” but “just doesn’t know how,” while declining to specify what concessions might lead the U.S. to lower tariffs.
China was the second-largest source of U.S. imports last year, shipping $439 billion worth of goods, while the U.S. exported $144 billion to China. Economists warn that the escalating tariff war may strain domestic industries and result in job losses.
China’s Commerce Ministry responded on Tuesday, expressing strong opposition to the new measures and calling them “a mistake upon a mistake.” The ministry vowed further retaliation against U.S. exports.
Several other nations, including members of the European Union, also face looming tariff increases under new trade rules announced last week. These tariffs, set to take effect at midnight, range from 11% to 50%.
Despite diplomatic efforts by various governments to negotiate exemptions or delays, Leavitt confirmed the administration is moving forward.
“President Trump expects these tariffs to go into effect,” she stated, adding that the president had instructed his trade team to pursue “tailor-made” deals with countries willing to negotiate. However, she emphasized these would not be “off-the-rack deals,” and offered no timeline for reaching agreements.