China is accusing the Trump administration of ‘blackmail’
China is refusing to back down in the wake of Donald Trump’s latest controversial tariff threats.
Last week, the president sparked outrage across the globe by unveiling a bold, far-reaching list of tariffs aimed at ‘Making America Wealthy Again.’ The move has sent shockwaves through international trade, with dozens of countries now facing hefty levies.
Over the weekend, many of the U.S.’s trading partners saw baseline tariffs of at least 10 percent, and by Wednesday, April 9, as many as 60 nations are preparing for even steeper increases. In his much-anticipated ‘Liberation Day’ address, President Trump singled out the European Union and China, accusing them of being the worst offenders in the global trade game. He proposed eye-popping reciprocal tariffs—20 percent on the EU and 34 percent on China—promising to tackle what he described as years of exploitation. This latest move follows the administration’s previous 20 percent tariffs on China, marking an overall 54 percent increase, which Trump claims is part of a broader strategy to punish China for its role in fentanyl trafficking.
Trump didn’t hold back, doubling down on his accusations by labeling China the “biggest abuser of them all” in global trade. However, Beijing wasn’t about to take this lying down. On Sunday, April 6, as global stock markets spiraled downward, China retaliated, threatening a hefty 34 percent counter-tariff on U.S. imports.
Trump quickly fired back, urging China to remove the levy by Tuesday, April 8, or face an even steeper 50 percent surcharge. If this ultimatum is enforced, the U.S. could rake in an eye-popping 104 percent on Chinese imports.
China, however, is standing firm, accusing the U.S. of “blackmail” and “bullying.” In a statement released earlier today, China’s Commerce Ministry blasted the U.S. move, calling the so-called “reciprocal tariffs” “completely groundless” and a textbook example of “unilateral bullying.”
China is not backing down, warning that more counter-tariffs could be on the horizon as the trade war continues to intensify.
In a firm statement, the Ministry of Commerce stressed that China’s actions are necessary to protect its sovereignty, security, and economic interests, as well as to uphold the global trade order. “These countermeasures are entirely legitimate,” the ministry asserted. “The U.S. threat to escalate tariffs on China is a mistake piled on top of a mistake and further exposes the blackmailing tactics of the U.S. China will not accept this. If the U.S. persists, China will fight to the end.”
In a separate briefing, China’s Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. of “economic bullying” and undermining global economic stability. Lin Jian, a spokesperson, argued that the U.S.’s misuse of tariffs “seriously infringes” upon trade agreements worldwide. He warned that “trade wars have no winners,” adding, “If the U.S. continues this tariff and trade war, disregarding the interests of both nations and the international community, China will fight until the end.”
Trump took to Truth Social yesterday, issuing a stark ultimatum: “If China does not withdraw its 34% tariff increase—on top of their long history of trading abuses—by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL tariffs on China of 50%, effective April 9th.”
He continued, “Furthermore, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated!”
This escalation could prompt China to step up its strategy of flooding other markets with cheaper goods, forging stronger trade alliances, and ultimately driving up costs for U.S. consumers.
As financial markets continue to fluctuate, a growing chorus of economists and business leaders, including billionaire Trump ally Bill Ackman, are urging the president to reconsider his aggressive tariff plans.
