The White House said China is now facing up to a 245 percent tariff on imports to the U.S. “as a result of its retaliatory actions,” another escalation in a trade war between the world’s two largest economies.

The top potential tariff is higher than the previously stated 145 percent and was referenced in a fact sheet published by the White House late on Tuesday.

It accompanied an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that launched an investigation into the “national security risks posed by U.S. reliance on imported processed critical minerals and their derivative products.”

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian was asked about the 245 percent rate at a press briefing on Wednesday. “You can ask the U.S. side for the specific tax rate figures,” Lin said, China News Network reported.

“This tariff war was initiated by the United States, and China’s necessary countermeasures are to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests and international fairness and justice, which are completely reasonable and lawful.”

Trump imposed a 10 percent tariff on imports from all countries. He has temporarily paused additional “reciprocal” rates set individually for each country depending on the trade barriers faced by the U.S. to allow time for negotiations on new deals.

The exception to that pause is China, which is facing increasingly higher tariffs from the U.S. and has responded in kind, among other countermeasures.

This week, China imposed more export controls on rare earths, which include materials used in high-tech products, aerospace manufacturing, and the defense sector.

Despite the eye-watering tariffs and tough rhetoric, both the U.S. and China have said they are open to talks on trade, though further tit-for-tat retaliation is likely in this conflict between two great powers.

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  • cybervseas@lemmy.world
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    10 days ago

    China doesn’t face a 245% tariff. Us US individuals and small businesses face a 245% tariff.

    • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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      10 days ago

      Sure, but this lowers US consumer demand for goods produced in China, giving the PRC motivation to seek increased economic ties elsewhere. China is negatively impacted by this in the short term, though they are better equipped to handle it due to actually holding the productive forces in the equation.

        • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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          10 days ago

          Sure, I agree that the US is fighting a losing battle and that the US Working Class will end up paying the most for it.

      • teagrrl@lemmy.ml
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        10 days ago

        The Chinese economy is not a pond, but an ocean. The ocean may have its calm days, but big winds and storms are only to be expected. Without them, the ocean wouldn’t be what it is. Big winds and storms may upset a pond, but never an ocean. Having experienced numerous winds and storms the ocean will still be there. It’s the same for China. After going through 5,000 years of trials and tribulations China is still here. Looking ahead China will always be here to stay.

        -President Xi Jinping

        • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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          10 days ago

          I also really like Democracy is not an Ornament and Water Droplets Drilling Through Rock.

          When I describe my awe upon seeing the power of droplets drilling through rock, I am praising those who have the willingness to rise each time one falls, and the moral character to sacrifice for overall success. I am expressing my admiration for those who develop a solid plan and then have the tenacity to see it through to the end.

          • teagrrl@lemmy.ml
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            10 days ago

            Thanks for sharing this, this is cool. If Xi Jinping were not a political leader, I think he would be a poet. (Assuming he writes his own speeches, if not, whoever is amazing.)

            • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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              10 days ago

              Yep! He probably has some help, but many Chinese write in similarly flowery ways, especially those who rise through the ranks of the CPC due to how its structured.

              • Thebigguy@lemmy.ml
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                10 days ago

                He has a political advisor who helped him develop his thought and helped him write the book.

  • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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    10 days ago

    Will probably see further movements from the PRC to sell off US treasury bonds and shifting more away from the dollar in general, along with tighter export restrictions on rare Earth.

    What would be incredibly based is if the PRC starts paying off loans in Africa with its dollars, decoupling the Global South from the US even further. Gets rid of dollars and debt in the Global South, potentially freeing up new customers for goods produced in China and strengthening ties.

  • RotatingParts@lemmy.ml
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    10 days ago

    Why doesn’t he just make them infinity percent? You know, like the way children use the idea of infinity.

    I dare you. I double dare you. I dare you times 100. I dare you times infinity.

    • logos@sh.itjust.works
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      10 days ago

      It might as well be, except for the theater of it.

      “Given that, at the current tariff level, U.S. exports to China are no longer commercially viable, China will not respond to any further tariff hikes by the U.S. on Chinese goods,” the ministry said.

      The U.S’ tactics of weaponizing tariffs have become “a joke,” it said in a statement.

      “If the U.S. keeps playing the numbers game of tariffs, China will ignore it,”

  • Alsephina@lemmy.mlOP
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    10 days ago

    China’s already said they wouldn’t retaliate with tariffs anymore, so I wonder what their response will be.

    More export controls on rare earths, or maybe selling off US treasury bonds?

  • HiddenLayer555@lemmy.ml
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    10 days ago

    The US literally thinks they’re invincible. The fallout when reality finally hits them will be delicious.

  • eletes@sh.itjust.works
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    10 days ago

    Is there a date when these show up for consumers? I’ve heard of small businesses getting hit from suppliers but store shelves and online prices have looked normal.

    Are retailers holding off or something?

    • Tilgare@lemmy.world
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      10 days ago

      It won’t hit all at once for a lot of different reasons. Retailers’ back stock is not subject to tariff because it has already been imported. Raw material lead times for products assembled in the US will be longer than products imported ready for store shelves. Apple recently made the news for importing planefuls of iPhones the weekend before the tariff was applied. Smaller businesses won’t be able to do stuff like that, but big corporations will have likely done similar things to soften/slow price increases. And, until additional duties go into effect worldwide, lots of companies had already diversified their manufacturing out of China for US-bound products because of the already existing tariffs from Trump’s first term.

      But once the companies have to pay the higher price, so will we all.

  • HappinessPill@lemmy.ml
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    9 days ago

    Won’t companies just avoid tariffs? They can’t just finish the products in another country? Poor and small companies on other hand are fucked since they don’t have a lot of money to evade tariffs.

  • sharkaccident@lemmy.world
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    10 days ago

    This is all a front so Trump can claim he is hard on China. In reality, China bought a ton of his crypto with an agreement to implement tariffs. Trump only cares about lining his pocket and demonstrating power. This achieves both.