Washington D.C., April 7, 2025 — Former President Donald Trump has ignited fresh tensions between the world’s two largest economies by threatening to impose an additional 50% tariff on Chinese imports if Beijing does not withdraw what he described as “retaliatory charges” against U.S. goods.
In a fiery speech during a campaign rally in Florida, Trump accused China of “unfair trade practices” and vowed to take aggressive action if re-elected. “China has taken advantage of the United States for far too long,” he declared. “If they don’t back off their retaliatory tariffs, we’ll slap an additional 50% duty on everything they send our way.”
The threat has raised alarm bells in financial markets already rattled by fears of a global recession. Economists and trade experts warn that such a dramatic escalation in trade barriers could further strain U.S.-China relations and worsen economic instability.
“Another round of steep tariffs would likely disrupt supply chains and raise prices for American consumers,” said an international trade analyst. “It could also provoke a strong response from China, leading to a tit-for-tat trade war.”
The Chinese government has yet to issue an official response to Trump’s remarks, but analysts expect Beijing to stand firm on its current policies. The escalating rhetoric comes amid a broader backdrop of slowing global growth, inflation concerns, and jittery investor sentiment.
With the 2024 election campaign heating up, trade policy has once again become a central focus — and Trump’s aggressive stance signals that economic nationalism remains a key pillar of his platform.