President Donald Trump has threatened to impose an additional 50% tariff on Chinese goods if China does not withdraw its retaliatory tariffs by April 8th. Trump also urged Americans to be patient and not become "Panicans" during the ongoing trade tensions. The U.S. announced discounted global tariffs last week.
"Yesterday, China issued Retaliatory Tariffs of 34%, on top of their already record setting Tariffs, Non-Monetary Tariffs, Illegal Subsidization of companies, and massive long term Currency Manipulation, despite my warning that any country that Retaliates against the U.S. by issuing additional Tariffs, above and beyond their already existing long term Tariff abuse of our Nation, will be immediately met with new and substantially higher Tariffs, over and above those initially set," Trump wrote on social media Monday. "Therefore, if China does not withdraw its 34% increase above their already long term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50%, effective April 9th. Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated! Negotiations with other countries, which have also requested meetings, will begin taking place immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
The president earlier in another post urged Americans to be patient. "The United States has a chance to do something that should have been done DECADES AGO," he wrote. "Don’t be Weak! Don’t be Stupid! Don’t be a PANICAN (A new party based on Weak and Stupid people!). Be Strong, Courageous, and Patient, and GREATNESS will be the result!"
Trump indicated that negotiations with other countries, including Japan and the European Union, are underway. He emphasized that the U.S. is seeking fair deals and, if necessary, will impose tariffs to achieve them.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other economic advisers have been defending the tariff strategy, stating that it is a necessary step to rebalance global trade.
The threat of tariffs has caused some volatility in global stock markets, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average experiencing losses. The Cboe Volatility Index, known as Wall Street’s "fear gauge," reached crisis levels, surpassing 50 points midday.
However critics argue that Wall Street speculators, globalists and "outsourcers" as Trump put it, are over-reacting in an apparent effort to dissuade the administration from moving forward with implementation of the reciprocal tariffs.
Supporters of the tariffs, praise Trump for his brave and long-term strategy to rebalance trade and bring back lost manufacturing industries.
Trump Says U.S. Is In Direct Talks With Iran Over Its Nuclear Program
In an Oval Office meeting with Trump Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the middle eastern country will remove all tariffs on U.S. goods. Both leaders also discussed the ongoing conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Gaza.
During the meeting with Netanyahu, Trump also announced that the U.S. is holding direct talks with Iran, set to continue on Saturday, with the aim of reaching a deal on Iran's nuclear program.
Trump warned that if the talks are not successful, Iran could be in "great danger" and emphasized that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
