China to impose 34% tariff on US goods in retaliation to Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs

China has imposed a 34% tariff on US goods as a trade war begins across the world after Donald Trump’s “liberation day” speech.

From the White House Rose Garden, Trump declared April 2, 2025, as a turning point in U.S. trade history.

“This is Liberation Day,” he said. “We’ve been waiting for a long time. April 2, 2025, will forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn, the day America’s destiny was reclaimed, and the day that we began to ‘Make America Wealthy Again’.”

He accused countries of decades of trade abuse, saying: “For decades our country has been looted, pillaged, raped and plundered from nations, near and far, from both friend and foe alike.”

A blanket 10% tariff was slapped on most imports — but it didn’t stop there. Dozens of countries labeled “worst offenders” are facing even steeper charges, with some duties reaching as high as 54%. That includes China, which Trump targeted with one of the biggest tariff hikes.

“They do it to us, and we do it to them. Doesn’t get much simpler than that,” he said.