US Slaps 104% Tariff Hike on Chinese Imports Amid Escalating Trade Tensions

The US–China trade dispute intensified sharply on Monday as the White House confirmed a major hike in tariffs on Chinese goods. White House Press Secretary announced that a 104 percent additional tariff on Chinese imports took effect at noon Eastern Time. The new duties, set to be collected starting April 9th, were imposed in response to China’s refusal to lift its 34 percent retaliatory tariffs. The move follows President Trump’s recent warning to escalate measures if Beijing didn’t reverse its stance. China held firm, triggering a high-stakes escalation in a trade standoff that’s already unsettling global markets. In a strong rebuttal, China’s Commerce Ministry labeled the U.S. action as “a mistake on top of a mistake” and pledged to “fight to the end.”