Strong response to Trump tariffs likely, but China hopes to negotiate: analysts

[SINGAPORE] With both the US and China not letting up in the battle of wills over tariffs, all eyes are on what China could do next.

US President Donald Trump announced in an abrupt about-turn on Wednesday (Apr 9) that he would delay the heavy tariffs he had previously imposed on around 60 “worst-offending” trade partners, but with one key exception – China.

In fact, Trump doubled down on his tariff pledge, increasing levies imposed on Chinese goods to 125 per cent. This marks the fourth round of tariffs that the US president has slapped on the world’s second-largest economy, having previously raised tariffs to 20 per cent, 54 per cent and 104 per cent.