A. M. President Donald Trump’s administration announced that as of midnight it will impose tariffs of 104% on certain products from China, in a move that intensifies the trade war between the world’s two major economic powers. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the decision takes effect immediately after expiring the ultimatum previously given to Beijing.
The tariff escalation comes after Trump already imposed tariffs of 34% on chinese imports, which began to take effect on Tuesday. In response, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao warned that China “will fight to the end” and will implement equivalent measures, making it clear that they will not give in to Washington’s pressures.
The new round of tariffs marks an even more aggressive turn by Trump, who accuses China of unfair trade practices and intellectual property theft. According to the president, these measures seek to “protect American jobs and industry”, although experts warn that the immediate effect could be higher product prices and greater global economic tensions.
China, the United States’ main trading partner, has harshly criticized the U.S. government’s position and is preparing to apply retaliatory measures that could include restrictions on U.S. companies in its territory and new barriers to agricultural and technological products.
International economists and analysts warn that this escalation could have serious consequences for the world economy, affecting supply chains, foreign investment, and the stability of financial markets. The trade war, which seemed to have moderated in recent years, is now back to a critical point.
