New US tariffs on China to hit 104%: White House

WASHITON/BEIJING: Additional US tariffs on Chinese imports are set to reach 104% on Wednesday, the White House told AFP, as Washington doubles down on planned action after Beijing vowed a “fight to the end” on levies.

US President Donald Trump had vowed a further 50% tariff on goods from China if Beijing did not retract upcoming retaliation — and the White House confirmed that Trump will proceed with this action, taking the overall added duties this year to 104%.

US President Donald Trump believes that China has to make a deal with the United States concerning additional tariffs that are set to go into effect on Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told a news briefing.

“The Chinese want to make a deal. They just don’t know how to do it,” Leavitt said on Tuesday. “He believes China has to make a deal with the United States.”

If China reaches out, she added, Trump would be “incredibly gracious, but he’s going to do what’s best for the American people.”

Earlier, Chinese commerce ministry said that the country will resolutely take countermeasures to safeguard its rights and interests should the United States escalate its tariff measures, Xinhua reported. The comments were made by a spokesperson with the Ministry of Commerce after the United States threatened to impose an additional 50% tariff on Chinese imports, which the spokesperson said China firmly opposes.

The US so-called “reciprocal tariffs” against China are groundless and a typical practice of unilateral bullying, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson noted that the countermeasures China has adopted are entirely legitimate actions aimed at protecting its sovereignty, security, and development interests, as well as maintaining a normal international trade order.