The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has confirmed that a 104 percent reciprocal tariff on Chinese goods officially took effect on Wednesday.
Trump made the announcement during a speech at a White House event, stating that the increased tariffs were a direct response to the 100-125 percent duties that China had imposed on American products.
“Right now China is paying a 104% tariff. It sounds ridiculous, but they charged us for many items 100-125%. Many countries have. They’ve ripped us off left and right. But now it’s our turn to do the ripping!” Trump declared.
This confirmation follows Tuesday’s statement from the White House, which indicated that the 104 percent tariff on Chinese imports would come into effect at midnight.
The move escalates an ongoing trade standoff between the US and China. Beijing has insisted that it will not roll back its 34 percent retaliatory tariff on American goods, maintaining its stance despite increasing tensions.
The latest development stems from the Trump administration’s sweeping tariff announcement on April 2, 2025, aimed at rebalancing trade relations and reducing the U.S. trade deficit.
China has reiterated its intention to respond firmly to the United States’ latest tariff measures, further fueling concerns of a prolonged trade war between the two economic superpowers.