China Hits Back with 125% Tariffs Amid Escalating Trade War, Keeps Door Open for Talks

Beijing, April 11, 2025 — China has sharply escalated its tariff retaliation against the United States, slapping a 125% additional levy on US imports starting Saturday. The move comes in direct response to America’s 145% total tariffs on Chinese goods, marking another heated chapter in the ongoing trade war.

China’s Customs Tariff Commission, announcing the hike on Friday, said the US tariffs had crossed the line of economic rationale. “It would no longer make economic sense and will go down as a joke in world economic history,” the commission said, warning that if the US further raises tariffs, China will simply ignore them.

Despite the tough stance, China maintained it was open to resolving the conflict through dialogue. However, it made clear that any negotiations must be based on equality and mutual respect. “We don’t want a trade war, but we are not afraid of one,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, adding that the US must abandon its “maximum pressure tactics” if it truly seeks resolution.

The US had earlier imposed an additional 20% levy, raising the effective tariff on Chinese goods to 145%, citing the need for “reciprocal tariffs.” President Donald Trump’s administration had excluded other nations from the hikes, making China the sole target of the aggressive trade policy.

In a parallel move, China filed a complaint with the World Trade Organisation’s dispute settlement body, challenging the legality of the US tariff measures.

Beijing’s response underscores its readiness to escalate countermeasures while simultaneously urging for constructive engagement. But with both nations locked into a cycle of tariff-for-tariff, the global economy is watching anxiously for signs of de-escalation.