Former US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to China, threatening to impose an additional 50 per cent tariff on Chinese imports, potentially taking the total levies to a staggering 104 per cent—more than the value of the goods themselves.

In a statement posted on Truth Social on Monday, Trump said:

“If China does not withdraw its 34 per cent increase above their already long-term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8, 2025, the US will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50 per cent, effective April 9th.”

He also made it clear that any negotiations with Beijing on tariffs would be off the table.

The move follows China’s decision to impose a 34 per cent tariff on US imports, in retaliation to a similar levy recently announced by the US. If the trade standoff continues, the resulting tariffs could cripple US consumers who depend heavily on Chinese-made goods.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said,

“I don’t mind going through it because I see a beautiful picture at the end,”
signaling his willingness to endure short-term pain for what he believes will be long-term gain.

Market reactions were mixed. While the NASDAQ edged up 0.1 per cent, the broader S&P 500 slipped 0.23 per cent. Earlier in the day, speculation of a 90-day pause on tariffs had temporarily lifted the S&P by 3.4 per cent, but those rumors were quickly dismissed by the White House.

Trump emphasized that the US is making “tremendous progress” on trade with several nations. After a call with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, he said that Japan would soon send a delegation to negotiate.

In a related development, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed reciprocal tariffs on India with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, aiming for a “fair and balanced trade relationship,” according to the State Department.

European Union President Ursula von der Leyen offered a “zero-for-zero” deal, proposing to remove tariffs on industrial goods, including cars, if the US did the same.

“We’re always ready for a good deal,” she posted on X.
But she also warned that the EU was prepared to impose countermeasures, with tariffs planned in two phases—one next week and another in May.

Two Republican Senators, Mike Lee and Ron Johnson, urged Trump to accept the EU’s proposal via posts on X.

While no tariff concessions were offered to Israel, Netanyahu promised to eliminate the US trade deficit with his country, positioning Israel as a model for others.