China again retaliates against Trump tariffs

At a press briefing on Friday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt painted a picture of an administration under President Donald Trump that is rapidly reshaping global trade dynamics. According to Leavitt, the Trump administration’s aggressive tariff strategy has ignited a wave of interest from countries eager to strike new trade agreements with the United States. “The phones are ringing off the hooks,” she stated, noting that several countries are reaching out to initiate discussions following the president’s recent decisions.
Earlier in the week, President Trump unveiled a sweeping set of tariffs that sent shockwaves through global markets. However, by midweek, he had rolled back most of those tariffs to a temporary 10 percent for a 90-day period, suggesting some level of flexibility in his strategy. The notable exception is China, which now faces a massive 145 percent tariff on its exports to the U.S. In response, Beijing retaliated on Friday by raising its tariffs on American goods to 125 percent, escalating fears of a full-scale trade war.
Leavitt addressed the growing tension with China, suggesting that the door to negotiation remains open. “The president would be gracious if China is willing to come to the table,” she said. “But if they continue on the path of retaliation, it’s not going to end well for them.” Reinforcing Trump’s hardline stance, she added, “When the United States is punched, President Trump punches back harder.”