China isn’t playing when it comes to global trade retaliation. On Friday, Beijing came through with a major clapback: China announces 34% tariff on all U.S. imports starting April 10, directly responding to President Donald Trump’s recent “Liberation Day” trade policies that slammed Chinese exports.
Trump’s move to enforce a 34% tariff on Chinese products earlier this week sparked this global chess move. China’s Commerce Ministry issued an official statement, making it clear they’re matching energy — dollar for dollar, tariff for tariff.
“This move marks a new phase in the trade war,” said a Chinese trade official. “We are simply responding to hostile economic actions.”
Export Controls Expand: Rare Earth Elements Under Lock
On top of the new tariffs, China’s Commerce Ministry also let it be known they’re tightening control over rare earth exports, the key minerals used in everything from electric vehicles to smartphones to military tech.
In the official notice, China announced export restrictions on materials like samarium, used in aerospace and defense, and gadolinium, which plays a big role in MRI tech.
This ain’t just a flex — it’s a power move. These rare elements are essential for U.S. manufacturers. By putting restrictions on them, China’s basically hitting at the core of several billion-dollar U.S. industries.
Analysts say this could push tech companies to scramble for alternative suppliers or restructure production pipelines entirely.
Food Fight: U.S. Chicken, Sorghum Get Blocked
But that’s not all — Beijing turned the heat all the way up. China’s customs administration officially suspended chicken imports from several U.S. suppliers after finding furazolidone — a banned drug in China — in the meat.
Some of these companies also got flagged for high mold levels in sorghum and salmonella in poultry, further escalating the food safety drama. The import bans currently hit four poultry suppliers and one sorghum exporter, C&D Inc.
This latest move could hurt American farmers heavy, especially in southern states where sorghum and poultry exports are big business.
Food safety has always been a sensitive topic in China. This just gave Beijing another reason to cut U.S. food products loose — while signaling to the world that they’re done tolerating trade disrespect.
U.S. Firms Land on China’s Sanctions List
In an even colder twist, the Chinese government added 27 U.S. companies to their trade sanctions list, with 16 of them banned from receiving “dual-use” goods — products that can be used for both commercial and military purposes.
Notable names on this blacklist include:
High Point Aerotechnologies, a defense tech firm Universal Logistics Holdings, a publicly traded freight company
These companies now face restrictions that could freeze deals, delay shipments, and complicate supply chains. It’s China’s way of letting the U.S. know: this trade war ain’t one-sided.
“These measures are necessary to protect national interests,” said the official Ministry spokesperson in Beijing.
