China has fired back at Donald Trump, telling him to “stop whining” after the US ramped up tariffs on certain Chinese imports to a staggering 245%.
That means Americans now have to pay up to 245% extra on top of the cost of certain goods from China, money that goes straight to the US government.
Of course, businesses will pass these extra costs down the line, meaning consumers will likely face higher prices.
At a certain point, tariffs this high make trade almost impossible. Prices get so inflated that people simply stop buying.
Americans May Have to Look Elsewhere
If Chinese goods become too expensive, American importers will need to find new suppliers, if they even exist. If not, American consumers may just have to deal with fewer options or pay the price.
On the flip side, China will be looking for new buyers in other countries to offset the loss.
While not all items will be hit with the full 245% tariff, there are reports of certain exemptions—especially for high-demand products like laptops and phones—to avoid major economic shocks.
White House Defends the Tariffs
The White House claims the tariff hike is a direct response to China’s retaliatory actions, saying Beijing has continued to impose tariffs of their own on American goods.
The two countries are locked in a trade war that shows no signs of slowing down.
While Trump insists the US has been “ripped off” for years, China’s state-run media says that’s not true, and that America is now playing the victim after enjoying decades of global advantage.
China Accuses the US of Living Beyond Its Means
In a scathing rebuke, China’s state media said the US isn’t being cheated—it’s been overspending and underproducing for decades.
They accuse the US of outsourcing jobs, living on borrowed money, and taking a “free ride” on the globalization train.
“The US should stop whining about itself being a victim in global trade and put an end to its capricious and destructive behavior,” said one statement.
Trump’s Revenue Claims Don’t Match Reality
Trump has claimed that the tariffs are bringing in $2 billion a day, but official data tells a different story.
According to NBC, between April 5 and April 14, the US only collected around $500 million in total from tariffs.
Since Trump took office in January, the total is about $21 billion—far below the $2 billion per day he mentioned.
China Not Raising Tariffs Further—For Now
Despite Trump’s aggressive moves, China isn’t currently planning to increase tariffs on US goods beyond the current 125%.
They’ve called the US moves a “meaningless numbers game,” suggesting they’re not interested in continuing the tit-for-tat escalation.
Still, as the world’s two largest economies continue to clash, the ripple effects will likely be felt far beyond just China and the US.