Donald Trump Issues China Ultimatum! The Atmosphere Is Getting Thicker

In a dramatic twist in the global trade war, former President Donald Trump announced he would impose additional, massive tariffs on Chinese goods. His threat prompted an immediate reaction from financial markets, deepening uncertainty and causing wild swings on Wall Street. Is the world facing another round of trade conflict on an unprecedented scale?

Donald Trump, via his Truth Social website, accused China of imposing retaliatory tariffs of 34%, adding that Beijing also uses “record tariffs, non-monetary tariffs, illegal subsidies for companies, and massive, long-term currency manipulation.” His response was immediate and decisive.

Therefore, if China does not withdraw its 34% increase […] by tomorrow, April 8, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL tariffs on China of 50%, effective April 9 – Trump announced.

He also added that he would immediately end trade talks with China and that negotiations with other countries would begin immediately.

If that threat comes true, it would mean that the base rate on almost all goods from China would reach 104%. It would be an unprecedented step that could seriously disrupt global supply chains and lead to sharp price increases for consumers.

Contrary to Trump’s claims, China announced retaliatory tariffs of 34% on Friday, with an effective date of April 10. Additionally, according to the White House plan, “reciprocal” tariffs on goods from countries with trade surpluses with the US were to go into effect on April 9. Earlier, on Saturday, a 10% tariff was implemented for almost all countries in the world.

Trump’s announcement caused chaos on Wall Street. Initially, stock indices rose after unconfirmed reports of a possible 90-day suspension of tariffs on all countries except China. However, after the White House denied these reports, stock prices fell sharply again. The Dow Jones fell 1.7%.

Trump’s threats raise questions about the future of US-China trade relations. Escalation of the conflict could have serious consequences for the global economy, affecting economic growth, inflation and financial market stability. The world is watching the situation with concern, wondering whether it will be possible to avoid further escalation and return to dialogue.