Washington, April 8, 2025: With US President Donald Trump set to enforce a fresh round of sweeping tariffs by April 9, the global economic landscape has entered a phase of heightened tension. The tariffs, including a proposed 50% duty on Chinese imports, are triggering fierce global reactions and mounting fears of a full-blown trade war.
China’s Commerce Ministry responded with a hardline stance on Tuesday morning, pledging to “fight to the end” if the US follows through. Beijing warned that Washington’s threat was a “mistake on top of a mistake” and accused the US of “blackmailing” tactics. The situation escalated after Trump, via his Truth Social platform, warned China to roll back its recent 34% tariff hike by April 8 or face additional penalties.
If enforced, the US tariffs on Chinese goods could reach a staggering 104%, factoring in existing 20% duties related to fentanyl trafficking and the 34% tariffs from last week’s announcement. Trump also declared that all talks with China would be called off if Beijing failed to comply.
India weighed in on the unfolding crisis through Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who criticized China’s economic model. Speaking at the ‘India Global Forum’ on Monday, Goyal said China’s rise had been driven by “unfair trade practices” and stressed that global trade should focus on “fair play” and “honest value.” He added that the world could face “more turbulence” if economic imbalances persist, but assured that India was well-positioned to turn global uncertainty into opportunity.
Meanwhile, the European Union is bracing for the fallout, taking a cautious dual approach. Trump has already rejected the EU’s offer to drop their increased tariffs, accusing the bloc of being “very bad to the US.” The EU currently imposes a 10% tariff on American cars but is preparing retaliatory duties if negotiations fail. A draft list of affected products has been circulated, with votes expected soon. If passed, the EU’s counter-tariffs will be implemented in two phases—on April 15 and mid-May.
As the countdown to April 9 begins, the world is watching to see whether these escalating threats will be defused through diplomacy or spiral into a long-dreaded global trade war.
