China Hits Back at US Tariffs with Steep Duties and Export Restrictions

China didn’t wait long to respond to the Trump administration’s new “Liberation Day” tariffs. Starting April 10, China is hitting back with a 34% tariff on all US imports — a direct and significant countermeasure.

In a strongly worded statement, China’s Ministry of Finance criticized the US move as a “unilateral bullying practice” and called on Washington to scrap the tariffs. The statement urged both countries to resolve their trade differences through respectful and fair negotiations.

But tariffs weren’t China’s only response. The government is also tightening its grip on critical resources by restricting exports of rare earth minerals — essential components in everything from semiconductors to electric vehicles. These restrictions take effect immediately.

On top of that, 11 US defense and drone companies have been banned from doing business in China, and 16 more US firms have been added to China’s export control list.

China has also filed a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO), claiming that the new US tariffs violate international trade rules.

To put things into perspective: in 2024, the US exported $143.5 billion worth of goods to China — making these new measures a serious escalation in the ongoing trade tensions.