In a post on his own social media platform Truth Social, Trump writes that Beijing must back down from introducing its 34-percent retaliatory tariffs against the USA – otherwise, Washington will impose an additional 50 percent tariffs, which he announced on Wednesday.
"If China does not withdraw the 34-percent tariffs tomorrow, April 8", Trump writes, "the USA will introduce 'additional tariffs of 50 percent' from April 9". Furthermore, all planned talks between Washington and Beijing will be cancelled.
Beijing's retaliatory tariffs, which were announced a day after Trump's tariff decision last week, are intended to come into effect on Thursday.
The threat only applies to China, no other trading partners, writes Trump.
If Trump's words become reality on Wednesday, Chinese goods will be subject to tariffs totaling 104 percent.
This is because Trump earlier this year announced 20 percent tariffs on Chinese goods due to what he calls "Beijing's failure to address the illegal fentanyl trade". The 34 and 50 percent tariffs that are now to come into effect will be added to these, confirms the White House to the news agency AFP.
