Today's News: U.S. Implements 104% Tariff on China
The move stems from China’s refusal to lift its 34% retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. China pledged to “fight to the end” while other nations rushed to negotiate exemptions.
Photo: Eric Lee/The New York Times
Overview
Date: April 8, 2025
Topic: U.S. Implements 104% Tariff on China Amid Rising Global Trade Tensions
Summary: President Donald Trump’s administration has enacted a sweeping 104% tariff on all Chinese imports, significantly escalating a global trade war and drawing swift retaliation from Beijing. The move stems from China’s refusal to lift its 34% retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. Though Trump and senior officials have signaled willingness to negotiate with countries on a case-by-case basis, they remain firm on immediate implementation. Asian markets tumbled, U.S. indices swung wildly, and economists warned of inflationary pressure and recession risks. China pledged to “fight to the end” while other nations, including Japan and South Korea, rushed to negotiate exemptions. Domestic pushback is mounting, with bipartisan efforts in Congress to limit the president’s tariff powers.
Sources
The New York Times – As Trump’s Sweeping Tariffs Kick In, Officials Signal Openness to Talks
CNN – Tariffs on China set to rise to at least 104% on Wednesday, White House says
NBC News – China vows to ‘fight to the end’ if Trump raises tariffs to 104%
The Washington Post – Asian markets fall as Trump’s 104 percent tariff on China takes effect
Wall Street Journal – White House says 104% China tariffs set to go into effect at midnight
Fox Business – White House says Beijing missed deadline to lift retaliatory tariffs, US to hike China tariffs to 104%
Key Points
The U.S. is imposing a total 104% tariff on Chinese goods, combining multiple increases implemented over the past months.
China has vowed full retaliation, labeling U.S. actions as “mistake upon a mistake” and pledging to “fight to the end.”
Trump administration officials insist tariffs will go into effect as planned but signal openness to country-specific negotiations.
Global markets have responded with high volatility; U.S. stocks fell after initial optimism around potential trade deals.
Domestic criticism is intensifying, with bipartisan lawmakers introducing resolutions and legislation to curb executive tariff powers.
Economists and trade analysts warn of rising inflation and recession risks, with American consumers and importers expected to bear much of the cost.
Unique Highlights
The Wall Street Journal noted the rare intraday reversal in U.S. markets, with the S&P 500 experiencing its largest single-day swing since 1978 and detailed corporate legal strategies being considered to challenge the tariffs.
Fox Business highlighted economists' criticism of trade deficits as a rationale for tariffs and emphasized the precise timing of tariff activation.
NBC News included Chinese economist Andy Xie’s stark warning that China will no longer seek compromise, predicting full decoupling between the U.S. and China.
The New York Times uniquely detailed internal dissent in Congress, including specific names and legislative actions by both parties aimed at reasserting congressional control over trade.
CNN calculated that the effective average tariff rate on Chinese goods will now approach 125%, the highest in modern U.S. history.
Contrasting Details
CNN and The Washington Post describe the tariff escalation as reactive and politically calculated, while Fox Business emphasizes Trump's consistency and strategic justification based on trade deficits.
The New York Times reported that 70 countries have approached the U.S. about trade talks, suggesting broad diplomatic activity, while NBC News underscored that talks with China were terminated entirely.
The Wall Street Journal pointed to initial optimism and later disappointment among investors, whereas NBC News described China’s use of state funds to stabilize its markets as a direct countermeasure.
While CNN highlighted the economic risks and consumer cost impacts of rising tariffs, Fox Business quoted economists challenging the very notion that trade deficits are harmful.
The Newsie Project is an experiment using AI tools to survey contemporary reporting. It attempts to summarize, compare, and contrast the reporting of the major US online news sources.
This is an evolving project. Tools, approaches, and output formats will change over time. The Newsie Project does not attempt to provide a definitive capsule of any news story. While the incidence of errors in these summaries is low, and I attempt to spot-check details, AI tools can hallucinate. Please click through and read the articles for details (some may be paywalled).