- China has imposed tariffs on some US goods in response to Trump’s trade plan.
- Trump’s tariffs on China follow a rollback of planned tariffs on Canada and Mexico.
- Experts warn US tariffs on China may raise prices for electronics and other goods.
China hit back at President Donald Trump’s trade plan on Tuesday morning with two tiers of tariffs on American goods.
China’s Ministry of Finance said it would impose a 15% tariff on coal and liquefied natural gas and a 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery, and some vehicles.
The announcement comes days after Trump placed a 10% tariff on all Chinese imported products, building on his campaign promise of robust tariff policy.
In a statement announcing the tariffs, the Ministry of Finance said the US tariffs violate World Trade Organization rules.
“It is not only unhelpful in solving its own problems, but also disrupts the normal economic and trade cooperation between China and the US,” the statement said. The tariffs will go into effect on February 10.
Trump has also placed 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico — but later delayed the measures until March after reaching agreements to strengthen border protections with Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbam and Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Trump’s sweeping tariffs follow his comments that China is “sending fentanyl to Mexico and Canada” and worsening the fentanyl crisis in the US. He suggested a 60% tariff on China on the 2024 campaign trail.
Trump’s approach to trade with China echoes his first term in office. Throughout 2018 and 2019, the president placed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese products — including tech equipment and plastics. China previously responded in 2019 by placing 10% retaliatory tariffs on $75 billion of US imports.
Still, both lawmakers and billionaires have urged the president to rethink his tariff plan, saying that it will cost small businesses and American consumers.
China is a major producer of US electronics, and it’s likely that cell phones, laptops, and other devices could become more expensive.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
