China Urges US to Scrap 145% Reciprocal Tariffs Amid Intensifying Trade War
China’s Ministry of Commerce on Saturday demanded that the US government roll back its steep reciprocal tariffs, calling them a violation of fair trade norms. The strong reaction came after the US excluded smartphones, laptops, and memory chips from a sweeping tariff list issued earlier this month.
“We urge the US to… take a big step to correct its mistakes, completely cancel the wrong practice of ‘reciprocal tariffs’ and return to the right path of mutual respect,” a commerce ministry spokesperson said in a statement.
On Friday, the US Customs and Border Protection announced exemptions on select high-tech items from the newly imposed global tariffs, which had been expanded under policies rolled out by former President Donald Trump.
Companies like Apple, Dell, and Nvidia stand to benefit, given their manufacturing operations and component sourcing based heavily in China. Beijing, however, dismissed the move as merely a “small step” and said it was still assessing the overall impact.
In response, China implemented its own retaliatory tariffs, slapping 125% duties on American imports from Saturday. Despite the US offering limited reprieves, most Chinese exports remain subject to a 145% blanket levy, following the expiration of a 90-day tariff relief window.
The heightened tariffs are expected to strain trade further between the world’s two largest economies, both of whom are deeply intertwined in global supply chains.
US-China trade tensions have simmered for years, initially escalating under the Trump administration’s aggressive protectionist policies. While recent negotiations had hinted at potential thawing, the latest moves suggest a renewed phase of confrontation.
Experts say that without meaningful dialogue, the tariff escalations could ripple across global markets, disrupt tech supply chains, and drive up consumer prices worldwide.
China’s call for a complete rollback of US tariffs signals a hardening of its stance amid limited concessions from Washington. Analysts suggest that unless significant policy shifts occur, both sides may face long-term economic fallout.
