Trump Threatens China With “Extreme” New Tariffs After Beijing Hits Back With 34% Retaliation on U.S. Goods
The U.S.–China trade war just took a sharp turn — again.
Former President Donald Trump, who’s currently leading the 2024 Republican field and operating with the force of a quasi-incumbent, issued a fiery threat on Monday to slap China with what he called “the most extreme tariffs yet,” following Beijing’s decision to impose a punishing 34% retaliatory tariff on U.S. goods.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Ohio, Trump didn’t mince words: “If China thinks they can hit us with 34% and we’re going to sit back and take it, they’ve got another thing coming. We will hit back harder. Much harder.”
The Chinese tariffs — which affect key American exports including agricultural products, cars, and tech components — were announced in response to what Beijing described as “continued economic hostility and unfair trade practices” by the U.S. Trump’s previous comments about re-imposing tariffs and cutting off Chinese imports seem to have triggered this latest escalation.
“China is not afraid of competition, but we oppose economic bullying,” a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement. “If the U.S. chooses to escalate, we will respond accordingly to protect our interests.”
Trump, however, remains defiant — and is once again rallying his political base around the promise of economic nationalism.
“We’re not going to let them cheat us anymore. We lost trillions because of China. Under my plan, we bring the jobs back, we bring the factories back, and we stop being a doormat to the Communist Party.”
According to senior advisors close to Trump’s team, the proposed retaliatory measures could include tariffs of up to 60% on Chinese imports across a wide range of industries — from consumer electronics and textiles to steel and pharmaceuticals.
Markets reacted with immediate anxiety. The Dow Jones slid more than 400 points in early trading, while several multinational companies with deep ties to Chinese manufacturing — including Apple and Tesla — saw sharp dips in their stock prices.
Economists are warning of a potential economic shockwave if tensions continue to escalate unchecked. “A tariff war at this scale will drive up prices for American consumers, hurt exporters, and destabilize global supply chains,” said Lydia Han, a senior economist at the Global Trade Institute.
Meanwhile, some U.S. farmers, already battered by years of trade tension with China, are bracing for more pain. “Every time this trade war heats up, we’re the first ones to feel it,” said Mark Wallace, a soybean farmer in Iowa. “China was our biggest customer. Now we’re being used as pawns in a political fight.”
Despite the pushback, Trump is betting that his tough-on-China message will resonate with voters frustrated by globalization and rising foreign influence. As the 2024 election draws nearer, the former president appears ready to double down on his hardline stance — tariffs, threats, and all.
And if China retaliates again? Trump’s response was blunt: “We’ll go all the way.”
