U.S. President Donald Trump will impose levies totaling 104 percent across all Chinese imports starting 9 April, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed.
The 104 percent total is made up of the first 10 percent tariff in February, the second 10 percent tariff announced just a month later, the recent 34 percent tariff announced on 2 April, and a new 50 percent additional tariff which Trump said is in response to China hitting U.S. goods with a 34 percent tariff to match the 2 April amount.
“April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50 percent effective April 9th,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social social media platform. “Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated!”
At a press conference on 8 April, Leavitt confirmed the 104 percent tariff amount and the implementation date of 9 April – the same date the initial 34 percent tariff was to be implemented.
“America does not need other countries as much as other countries need us, and President Trump knows this,” Leavitt said. “Countries like China, who have chosen to retaliate and try to double down on their mistreatment of American workers are making a mistake. President Trump has a spine of steel, and he will not break.”
The U.S. imported USD 1.52 billion (EUR 1.38 billion) worth of seafood from China in 2024, meaning the new 104 percent tariff rate would have doubled importers’ costs by adding USD 1.59 billion (EUR 1.45 billion) in duties to those imports...
