China imposes 34% tariff on all US goods starting April 10

China retaliates against Trump with a 34% tariff on all US products

China's Ministry of Finance has announced a 34% tariff on all American goods effective April 10. The measure is direct retaliation for Donald Trump's announcement that added a further 34% to the existing 20%, bringing the total burden on many Chinese imports into the United States to 54%. Beijing made no sector-specific distinctions: agriculture, technology, automobiles, and raw materials will all face the same rate. This escalation brings the 2018 trade war back to the forefront and complicates an already tense scenario.

What peine and why it matters

The trigger was the so-called "Liberation Day," a symbolic event where Trump sought to make a political impact. There he announced new 34% tariffs on Chinese goods, adding to the previous 20%. China's response was immediate: the Ministry of Finance labeled Washington's decisions as "unilateral intimidation" and accused Trump of undermining basic international trade rules. According to the official statement, these measures abusa fundamental principles and constitute a direct attack on China's commercial interests. They also warn that such actions destabilize the global economy and disrupt supply chain balances.

The Tariff Commission of the State Council was clear: action will be taken in accordance with domestic law and international rights. It did so with a generalized measure, without sectoral distinctions. Whether discussing agricultural products, technology, automobiles, or raw materials, all goods of US origin will suffer the new tariff. Sectors such as semiconductors, industrial machinery, or soybeans—key in exchanges between both countries—could be particularly affected.

The return of the trade war

This escalation further complicates an already tense scenario between the world's two main powers, which have been engaged in an intermittent trade war since 2018. Back then, also under Trump's presidency, the first rounds of cross-tariffs began. With Joe Biden's arrival, some stances softened, but Trump's return to power has brought more aggressive and protectionist language, very much in line with his first term. From Beijing, however, the door remains open to a negotiated solution. The Chinese Ministry has asked the United States to immediately withdraw its tariffs and return to the dialogue table. However, they stress that any negotiation must be conducted "equitably and with mutual respect," which in commercial diplomacy means: we won't come to talk if you don't change your tone.

The economic pulse: who holds out longer?

In practical terms, this new round of tariffs threatens to increase prices for a wide range of products, affecting both businesses and consumers. Uncertainty returns to markets, and rightly so: what started as an exchange of statements could once again become a large-scale trade war. Some argue that China has room to redirect its exports to other markets, while other analyses point out that damage to supply chains will be hard to avoid. The most optimistic calculation assumes Beijing can offset part of the losses with the tariffs it now imposes on US imports; the pessimistic scenario posits that confrontation extends to third countries.

What Europe and the rest of the world stand to lose

The impact is not limited to the two powers. The European Union, which already applies tariffs on Chinese cars, watches with concern how trade routes are reconfigured. Some analyses suggest China might divert unsold US goods to Europe at discounted prices to gain influence in third markets. Others warn that Washington could pressure allies to join the blockade. In this context, the lingering question is whether Brussels will act as a bloc or if each capital will negotiate separately. The answer is not yet written.

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With these elements, the trade war enters a new phase. Beijing has shown it does not intend to remain passive and is willing to use all available tools. Trump, for his part, has built his narrative around the idea that the United States loses in global commerce. Who blinks first?