Trump threatens China with additional 50% tariff if Beijing doesn’t scrap its retaliation

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President Trump threatened Monday to hit China with an additional 50% tariff if Beijing doesn’t lower its 34% retaliatory tariff on the US by Tuesday.

“If China does not withdraw its 34% increase above their already long term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50%, effective April 9th,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated!

https://nypost.com/2025/04/07/world-news/trump-threatens-china-with-additional-50-tariff-if-beijing-doesnt-scrap-its-retaliation/

I'm betting that China won't fold.

 

[josephbloggs]

5 minutes ago, placeholder said:

President Trump threatened Monday to hit China with an additional 50% tariff if Beijing doesn’t lower its 34% retaliatory tariff on the US by Tuesday.

“If China does not withdraw its 34% increase above their already long term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50%, effective April 9th,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated!

https://nypost.com/2025/04/07/world-news/trump-threatens-china-with-additional-50-tariff-if-beijing-doesnt-scrap-its-retaliation/

I'm betting that China won't fold.

 

You couldn't make it up. The man is a lunatic but he has the following of the cult. 

America's global influence is crumbling by the day - it is sad, but also hilarious, to watch.

I actually think the US presidency is now some kind of weird reality show and any time now the game will end.

[jas007]

4 minutes ago, placeholder said:

President Trump threatened Monday to hit China with an additional 50% tariff if Beijing doesn’t lower its 34% retaliatory tariff on the US by Tuesday.

“If China does not withdraw its 34% increase above their already long term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50%, effective April 9th,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated!

https://nypost.com/2025/04/07/world-news/trump-threatens-china-with-additional-50-tariff-if-beijing-doesnt-scrap-its-retaliation/

I'm betting that China won't fold.

 

After he did that, the stock market started to tank again, but it has since bounced back a little.  The dollar index has also recovered.  

 

China will fold. They're in more trouble than many people seem to think.  Then again, Trump may just be making idol threats.  

[SunnyinBangrak]

You have to admire Trump's determination to save the US from drowning in debt. Stones the size of Kilimanjaro. Of course, those favoring greed motivated Presidents will be baffled by Trump's actions, but I think most can see spiralling defecit = disaster in the future. 

 

[placeholder]

Just now, josephbloggs said:

You couldn't make it up. The man is a lunatic but he has the following of the cult. 

America's global influence is crumbling by the day - it is sad, but also hilarious, to watch.

It's funny. I thought that the s&p 500 would crater after that announcement but so far it's gone up a bit. Maybe it's the Hungry Joe phememon. The character in Catch-22 who spent his life in fear of the raising of how many missions he would have to fly before he got to go back to the States. But when the number was raised, he was happy because no more stressful anticipation? Probably not a great explanation.

[Maybole]

Hold firm China, stand up to the bully!

[josephbloggs]

4 minutes ago, Maybole said:

Hold firm China, stand up to the bully!

China won't be bullied. There is humiliation to come...

[NoDisplayName]

19 minutes ago, placeholder said:

“Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated!

 

What's the point of holding meetings and offering to negotiate?

 

Vietnam, one of the worst hit with a 46% tariff, offered to completely eliminate all duties — an approach swiftly rejected by Peter Navarro, a Trump adviser who helped craft the policy.

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/frustrated-world-leaders-wonder-if-trump-even-wants-a-deal/ar-AA1CrX27

[placeholder]

1 minute ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

What's the point of holding meetings and offering to negotiate?

 

Vietnam, one of the worst hit with a 46% tariff, offered to completely eliminate all duties — an approach swiftly rejected by Peter Navarro, a Trump adviser who helped craft the policy.

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/frustrated-world-leaders-wonder-if-trump-even-wants-a-deal/ar-AA1CrX27

Vietnam did offer to lower tariffs to zero if the US did the same, The US refusal shows that it's not about reciprocity.

[NoDisplayName]

Asked on board Air Force One about the catastrophic market reaction to his announcement, Trump said: “Sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something.”

 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-steps-off-golf-course-002828447.html

 

More tariffs, at warp speed? 

 

"A question that probably some of you are thinking of if you’re totally into that world, which I find to be very interesting. So, supposedly we hit the world with a tremendous, whether it’s tariffs or just very powerful sanctions, and I think you said that hasn’t been checked, but you’re going to test it. And then I said supposing you brought the tariffs inside the WTO, which you can do either through the treaties or in some other way.  And I think you said you’re going to test that, too. Sounds interesting, right?"

[NoDisplayName]

3 minutes ago, placeholder said:

Vietnam did offer to lower tariffs to zero if the US did the same, The US refusal shows that it's not about reciprocity.

 

Yes, and we know that.  The tariff rates are based not on THEIR tariffs (Japan and Korea impose 0% tariffs on US vehicles), but on the trade deficit.

 

THEIR consumers have to be forced somehow to buy the crap we don't make.

[hotsun]

China thinks everyone needs their cheap junk and that they can innovate better now. Im buying puts on the chinese market

[placeholder]

2 minutes ago, hotsun said:

China thinks everyone needs their cheap junk and that they can innovate better now. Im buying puts on the chinese market

Wake up! It's the 21st century.China leads the world in lots of technologies. 

 

"China’s global lead extends to 37 out of 44 technologies that ASPI is now tracking, covering a range of crucial technology fields spanning defence, space, robotics, energy, the environment, biotechnology, artificial intelligence (AI), advanced materials and key quantum technology areas.1 The Critical Technology Tracker shows that, for some technologies, all of the world’s top 10 leading research institutions are based in China and are collectively generating nine times more high-impact research papers than the second-ranked country (most often the US). Notably, the Chinese Academy of Sciences ranks highly (and often first or second) across many of the 44 technologies included in the Critical Technology Tracker."

https://www.aspi.org.au/report/critical-technology-tracker

[josephbloggs]

11 minutes ago, hotsun said:

China thinks everyone needs their cheap junk and that they can innovate better now. Im buying puts on the chinese market

China is light years of the US in many industries. But keep swallowing your propaganda.

[jas007]

56 minutes ago, placeholder said:

It's funny. I thought that the s&p 500 would crater after that announcement but so far it's gone up a bit. Maybe it's the Hungry Joe phememon. The character in Catch-22 who spent his life in fear of the raising of how many missions he would have to fly before he got to go back to the States. But when the number was raised, he was happy because no more stressful anticipation? Probably not a great explanation.

If you look, you can see all the markets and the news and the oil prices and anything else you want to look at in real time.  And when the news flashed about Trump's China threat, the market did reverse a. little, but it didn't tank by any means.  

 

The markets are bouncing around all over today, but much of what's going on probably doesn't have much to do with Trump's China threat.  The Wall Street people know better than to overreact to that kind of talk, and those are the people running the market.  

[placeholder]

8 minutes ago, jas007 said:

If you look, you can see all the markets and the news and the oil prices and anything else you want to look at in real time.  And when the news flashed about Trump's China threat, the market did reverse a. little, but it didn't tank by any means.  

 

The markets are bouncing around all over today, but much of what's going on probably doesn't have much to do with Trump's China threat.  The Wall Street people know better than to overreact to that kind of talk, and those are the people running the market.  

The Wall Street people also knew better than to react to Trump's tariff threats. They are massively regretting that now.

[Walker88]

Gavin Newsom is calling nations and making trade deals....Canada, Mexico, Vietnam, China, Japan

 

California is the 5th largest economy in the world. It has 37 million people. I can name 16 Red States whose combined population is less. CA is an attractive market, so deal making should be easy. States rights and all.

 

Too bad for POTUS. Besides, it is Congress who sets tariffs, not the President, so Gov Newsom is under no obligation to go along with POTUS' insanity.

 

Once Newson succeeds, expect Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island to follow suit, maybe even Gov Shapiro of Pennsylvania.

 

POTUS can just keep hurting Red States. They love him, so let them enjoy his "talents".

[jas007]

9 hours ago, placeholder said:

Vietnam did offer to lower tariffs to zero if the US did the same, The US refusal shows that it's not about reciprocity.

It's about more than just the actual tariffs. That's why they use the formula they do to determine the tariffs.  They want to address extraneous factors, like currency manipulation. That may seem like a joke, but there's some merit to it.  I think every nation is guilty of that, to a degree, even the USA.  

[candide]

9 hours ago, jas007 said:

After he did that, the stock market started to tank again, but it has since bounced back a little.  The dollar index has also recovered.  

 

China will fold. They're in more trouble than many people seem to think.  Then again, Trump may just be making idol threats.  

China will not fold. Chinese people have been indoctrinated to be ready to fight a real war, so an economic war is peanuts for them. They will stand it for longer time than American consumers confronted with inflation ( you know, one of the main reasons they voted for Trump).

 

Politically, it's a blessing for the Communist party. 

[placeholder]

10 hours ago, jas007 said:

After he did that, the stock market started to tank again, but it has since bounced back a little.  The dollar index has also recovered.  

 

China will fold. They're in more trouble than many people seem to think.  Then again, Trump may just be making idol threats.  

You think so? 

 

China Threatens to Retaliate Against Trump’s Latest Tariff Warning

China is threatening to retaliate further against the U.S. if President Trump carries out his threat to raise the tariff on Chinese goods by an additional 50%.

A statement from the Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday said that if the U.S. escalates tariffs, “China will resolutely take countermeasures to safeguard its own rights and interests.” Previously China announced a blanket 34% tariff on American goods, matching the level of Trump’s April 2 tariff on Chinese imports.

https://archive.ph/figNW

You know what America has that China doesn't? 

Electoral opposition.

[jas007]

34 minutes ago, candide said:

China will not fold. Chinese people have been indoctrinated to be ready to fight a real war, so an economic war is peanuts for them. They will stand it for longer time than American consumers confronted with inflation ( you know, one of the main reasons they voted for Trump).

 

Politically, it's a blessing for the Communist party. 

Just sit back, watch the chaos unfold, and maybe learn a thing or two.  

 

Right now, China is probably in the process of dumping some US treasuries.  That's their little fit about Trump and the fact that they might have to compete on a level playing field.  Anyway, that's why we saw an increase in the US 10 year bonds today.  Can the Fed do something about that? Absolutely.  Will they?  Absolutely, if things start to get out of hand.  So far, Powell is just posturing for political purposes.  But never forget, the Fed's supply of money is infinite.  They can buy it all if they want, with the world reserve currency.  And at this moment, there's no other currency in the world that can replace the US dollar in terms of liquidity.  No way.  That's just some people's fantasy. At least for the next five years or so, the dollar will continue to be in demand around the world.  

 

As for the "indoctrination" of the Chinese people?  You've been reading too much propaganda.  By and large, the Chinese people aren't doing so well right now, economically. Their real estate markets are crashing, stores are closing, people aren't spending money like they used to, and people are losing their jobs.  And many of them are no fans of the Chinese Communist Party.  

 

Long term, China isn't going anywhere.  I agree, they'll be around, regardless.  But that does not mean that China is  holding the winning cards right now.  

 

Maybe they'll go to war over Taiwan?  That would make trouble for Trump, for sure.  

 

The more likely scenario?  They drop their retaliatory tariff. 

[spidermike007]

We are witnessing historic levels of hubris and arrogance, and a man who is so completely out of touch with the reality, that he is downright dangerous on so many levels, and the American people are just starting to see how unhinged this man is, and how wrong he is with his extreme policies. Who will suffer? Not the super rich or the billionaires, that's for sure. 

 

 

 

 

[jas007]

4 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

We are witnessing historic levels of hubris and arrogance, and a man who is so completely out of touch with the reality, that he is downright dangerous on so many levels, and the American people are just starting to see how unhinged this man is, and how wrong he is with his extreme policies. Who will suffer? Not the super rich or the billionaires, that's for sure. 

 

 

 

 

Consider the source.  

[SHA 2 BKK]

10 hours ago, placeholder said:

Vietnam did offer to lower tariffs to zero if the US did the same, The US refusal shows that it's not about reciprocity.

 

Australia has zero Tariffs on US imported goods (as the the Heard and McDonald Pengiun infested isles) but Uncle Sam still slams a 10% tariff on it.  Apparently unhappy that Aussies don't want to buy substandard Yankee Beef (there is no ban on US Beef) coming to Australia) and the fact that Australians have access to cheap life saving medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

 

Can's see Thailand or Vietnam getting much traction on this given their clunky  bureaucracy's and the refusal of the US to even talk.

[candide]

14 minutes ago, jas007 said:

Just sit back, watch the chaos unfold, and maybe learn a thing or two.  

 

Right now, China is probably in the process of dumping some US treasuries.  That's their little fit about Trump and the fact that they might have to compete on a level playing field.  Anyway, that's why we saw an increase in the US 10 year bonds today.  Can the Fed do something about that? Absolutely.  Will they?  Absolutely, if things start to get out of hand.  So far, Powell is just posturing for political purposes.  But never forget, the Fed's supply of money is infinite.  They can buy it all if they want, with the world reserve currency.  And at this moment, there's no other currency in the world that can replace the US dollar in terms of liquidity.  No way.  That's just some people's fantasy. At least for the next five years or so, the dollar will continue to be in demand around the world.  

 

As for the "indoctrination" of the Chinese people?  You've been reading too much propaganda.  By and large, the Chinese people aren't doing so well right now, economically. Their real estate markets are crashing, stores are closing, people aren't spending money like they used to, and people are losing their jobs.  And many of them are no fans of the Chinese Communist Party.  

 

Long term, China isn't going anywhere.  I agree, they'll be around, regardless.  But that does not mean that China is  holding the winning cards right now.  

 

Maybe they'll go to war over Taiwan?  That would make trouble for Trump, for sure.  

 

The more likely scenario?  They drop their retaliatory tariff. 

No. I have spent around one year in China. The indoctrination starts with enrolling all primary school kids in pioneer organisations and follows during all their studies. I have never met any Chinese who is not anti-American. That includes educated people who have spent part of their studies abroad, and also people with whom I have a personal relationship and who trust me enough to criticize their government during private discussions.

[scorecard]

11 hours ago, placeholder said:

President Trump threatened Monday to hit China with an additional 50% tariff if Beijing doesn’t lower its 34% retaliatory tariff on the US by Tuesday.

“If China does not withdraw its 34% increase above their already long term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50%, effective April 9th,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated!

https://nypost.com/2025/04/07/world-news/trump-threatens-china-with-additional-50-tariff-if-beijing-doesnt-scrap-its-retaliation/

I'm betting that China won't fold.

 

I agree, China is amused by trump but not frightened of trump. 

[scorecard]

19 minutes ago, candide said:

No. I have spent around one year in China. The indoctrination starts with enrolling all primary school kids in pioneer organisations and follows during all their studies. I have never met any Chinese who is not anti-American. That includes educated people who have spent part of their studies abroad, and also people with whom I have a personal relationship and who trust me enough to criticize their government during private discussions.

 

The university I'm associated with in Australia has a number of Chinese students who have withdrawn from US uni's and transferred to an Australia uni to study. 

 

In all cases the standard process of transfer of grades already earned has happened (meaning transfer uni to uni, but this is not automatic, all uni's who are approached to accept grades from other uni's do a check first on the credibility of the initial uni).

 

[jas007]

16 minutes ago, candide said:

No. I have spent around one year in China. The indoctrination starts with enrolling all primary school kids in pioneer organisations and follows during all their studies. I have never met any Chinese who is not anti-American. That includes educated people who have spent part of their studies abroad, and also people with whom I have a personal relationship and who trust me enough to criticize their government during private discussions.

I think you confuse being "anti-American" with the willingness of the Chinese people to put up with continuing financial chaos based on internal Chinese policies.  At the end of the day, they're Chinese and live in China.  They know full well who is causing their problems, and it isn't Donald Trump. 

 

Anyway, we all get to find out. 

 

If there's a war over Taiwan, all bets are off.  Otherwise, I think China blinks first.  

[Marcous]

11 hours ago, placeholder said:

It's funny. I thought that the s&p 500 would crater after that announcement but so far it's gone up a bit. Maybe it's the Hungry Joe phememon. The character in Catch-22 who spent his life in fear of the raising of how many missions he would have to fly before he got to go back to the States. But when the number was raised, he was happy because no more stressful anticipation? Probably not a great explanation.

There was a rumour picked up by CNBC, I believe, that Trump was mulling a 90 day pause on the tariffs. The news sent the S&P 500 into the green, but then the White House quickly denied the claim and said it was fake news. 

They could have just kept quiet unless Trump really does want to tank the market. Glad I got out 6 months ago. 

[dinsdale]

I remember China putting large tariffs on Australian wine because the Aus PM had the tenacity to say Covid originated in China. Xi always acts like a little spoilt kid that doesn't want to share their toy.