Chinese officials have urged U.S. President Donald Trump to fully cancel his reciprocal tariffs, as tensions in the ongoing trade war intensify.
This week, Trump paused a range of planned global tariffs for 90 days but raised tariffs on Chinese imports to a steep 145%.
In a statement, China’s commerce ministry called on the U.S. to “correct its mistakes” and return to mutual respect in trade relations.
The Trump administration offered a small concession by announcing temporary exemptions for some electronics, including Chinese-made products.
However, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick clarified that these exemptions are only temporary and hinted at a forthcoming “semiconductor tariff.”
President Trump disputed reports of exemptions, stating the products are being moved to a different tariff category as part of a broader investigation into national security concerns.
This has cast doubt over the status of exemptions on technology items like smartphones, computers, and semiconductors.
China described the exemptions as a “small step” and is currently evaluating their impact.
Despite the move, Trump’s officials have hinted at more levies, dampening hopes for easing trade tensions.
China has responded with its own escalating tariffs, most recently increasing levies on U.S. goods to 125%.
Beijing has vowed to “fight to the end” if the U.S. continues its aggressive tariff strategy.
Trump has defended his policy as a way to secure fairer trade deals and bring jobs back to the U.S., but critics warn of potential economic fallout and market instability.
