China wants to play hard ball with the big boys, but they do not realize what they are getting themselves into. For far too long they have been allowed to bully the world trade market. However, with President Donald Trump back in the game, that is no longer going to fly.
On Wednesday, China announced that they were raising their 34% tariffs on U.S. goods to a whopping 84% tariff.
Trump’s response? Classy, just as you’d expect. He posted to X that he is “hereby raising the Tariff charged to China by the United States of America to 125%, effective immediately.”
Trump wrote, “Based on the lack of respect that China has shown to the World’s Markets, I am hereby raising the Tariff charged to China by the United States of America to 125%, effective immediately. At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the U.S.A., and other Countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable.”
He continued, “Conversely, and based on the fact that more than 75 Countries have called Representatives of the United States, including the Departments of Commerce, Treasury, and the USTR, to negotiate a solution to the subjects being discussed relative to Trade, Trade Barriers, Tariffs, Currency Manipulation, and Non Monetary Tariffs, and that these Countries have not, at my strong suggestion, retaliated in any way, shape, or form against the United States, I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%, also effective immediately.”
Classic display of “play dumb games, win dumb prizes.”