the White House announces 104% tariff on China will go into effect at midnight, sending shockwaves across Wall Street, Asia, and every American household that buys imported goods.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made the announcement Tuesday, and let’s just say — the numbers are wild. China was already looking at a 34% spike from Trump’s previous tariff policy. But after Beijing refused to fold and hit back with retaliatory tariffs of their own, the White House clapped back with another 50% — taking the total up to a record-shattering 104%.
That’s right. The Biden-Trump handoff ain’t just about politics anymore. It’s now about economic firepower, and Trump clearly isn’t bluffing.
Beijing Responds: “A Mistake Upon a Mistake”
By noon Tuesday, Beijing wasn’t staying quiet. China’s Commerce Ministry fired back saying they “firmly oppose” the 50% jump in tariffs, calling the move “a mistake upon a mistake.” And y’all know when they talk like that, they’re not just venting — they’re plotting their next chess move.
They made it clear they’re ready to double down on U.S. exports, and that retaliation is on the table. Meanwhile, American businesses are stuck in the middle — once again facing rising costs, shipping chaos, and layoffs.
Trump’s Economic Showdown: “A Spine of Steel”
As stocks dipped in the afternoon, Leavitt stayed solid in her message:
“Countries like China, who have chosen to retaliate and try to double down on their mistreatment of American workers, are making a mistake,”
“President Trump has a spine of steel, and he will not break.”
Those were her exact words as the Dow, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 all started sliding deep into red by 3 p.m. ET.
“The Chinese want to make a deal, they just don’t know how to do it,” Leavitt continued.
She didn’t go into any detail about what kind of deal Trump would even consider, leaving the door wide open for even more global trade drama.
How Did We Get Here? Tariff Timeline Under Trump’s Second Term
Let’s rewind. Trump kicked off this trade war during February, slapping a 10% blanket tariff on all Chinese goods. No loopholes. No VIP treatment. He tied it directly to two things:
Allegations that China’s been helping illegal immigration
And claims that the country is involved in fentanyl trafficking into the U.S.
By last month, he had already doubled those rates, warning that more would come if China didn’t coopera
Global Trade on Edge: What This Means for America
China is no lightweight when it comes to global trade. Last year, the U.S. imported a jaw-dropping $439 billion worth of goods from China. On the flip side, we only exported $144 billion.
This means we buy way more from them than they do from us. That imbalance is exactly what Trump says he’s trying to fix — but it’s also what’s putting pressure on U.S. companies that rely on Chinese materials, factories, and tech.
With the mutual tariffs now in place, experts are warning that:
U.S. manufacturing could slow down
Retail prices might spike
And thousands of American jobs could be on the line
