U.S. President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs on imports from 57 countries took effect at 12:01 a.m. on Apr. 9 (1:01 p.m. Korea Standard Time), following his announcement on Apr. 2. The Trump administration intensified its trade offensive against China by raising the reciprocal tariff rate from 34 percent to 84 percent—a 50 percentage point increase—in response to Beijing’s retaliatory actions. Combined with the 20 percent surcharge levied between February and March over fentanyl trafficking concerns, the total tariff rate on Chinese imports has now climbed to 104 percent.
According to The New York Times, the new duties are being added on top of existing tariffs imposed during Trump’s first term from 2017 to 2021, significantly ratcheting up trade pressure on China.
South Korea, which has enjoyed largely duty-free access to the U.S. market since signing a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in 2007, is now subject to a 25 percent tariff on exports to the United States beginning Apr. 9. Nonetheless, White House National Economic Council (NEC) Chair Kevin Hassett said in an interview with Fox News on Apr. 8 that Japan and South Korea—described as two of the United States’ closest allies and trading partners—would be prioritized in upcoming tariff negotiations.
The Trump administration has indicated that reciprocal tariffs will be imposed primarily on countries running substantial trade surpluses with the United States, with a view to potentially lowering them through subsequent negotiations. South Korea and Japan are expected to lead these talks. On Apr. 8, South Korean Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo held a phone call with Trump to discuss tariff issues. That same day, Jeong In-kyo, South Korea’s chief trade negotiator at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, departed for Washington to begin formal discussions.
Also on Apr. 8, Trump signed an executive order to raise tariffs on Chinese goods from 34 percent to 84 percent in retaliation for China’s counter-tariffs and its decision to restrict rare earth exports to the United States. With the additional 20 percent tariff related to fentanyl concerns already in place, China now faces a cumulative 104 percent tariff on its exports to the United States.
Speaking at a National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) event that day, Trump said, “At some point, I believe China will come to the table and negotiate tariffs. But until we reach a deal, the tariffs will remain in place. China will now be paying us a lot of money, and it will help our budget.” However, despite Trump’s framing, tariffs are typically paid by importers—namely U.S.-based businesses and individuals—raising the likelihood that increased tariff revenues would come at the expense of American consumers. Analysts have warned that widespread reciprocal tariffs could drive up prices, potentially reigniting inflation, which had only recently begun to ease after the pandemic. A resurgence in inflation could weaken consumer spending and increase the risk of a broader economic downturn.
Experts also caution that if other countries respond with countermeasures similar to China’s, global trade flows could be disrupted, posing further risks to the world economy.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt described China’s retaliatory tariffs as “a mistake” on Apr. 8. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also downplayed the potential fallout, noting that American exports to China account for only one-fifth the volume of Chinese exports to the United States, leaving Washington with less to lose in a prolonged trade standoff.
In 2024, U.S. imports from China totaled $438.9 billion, while exports to China stood at $143.5 billion, resulting in a $295.4 billion trade deficit—the largest among all U.S. trading partners.
