Tariffs on China 'just opening steps' in long dance: Analysts

Retaliatory measures and negotiations have yet to unfold, they say

- Yew Lun TianSenior Correspondent and Joyce ZK Lim

Beijing has vowed to retaliate against the latest US tariffs, but also left the door open for negotiations.

US President Donald Trump raised the stakes in the trade war with China on April 2 (April 3, Singapore time) by announcing an additional 34 per cent in "reciprocal tariffs" on Chinese goods that are set to take effect on April 9.

"China firmly opposes this and will take necessary measures to firmly defend its legitimate interests," said China's Ministry of Commerce on April 3, without announcing specific countermeasures.

The latest US tariffs were based on "subjective and unilateral assessments" by the US, said a spokesperson for the ministry.

"History has proved that raising tariffs will not solve the US' own problems, and will not only harm its own interests but also jeopardise the development of the global economy and the stability of the production and supply chain," the spokesperson said in a statement.

At a regular press conference, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun urged the US to "rectify its wrong approach" and resolve differences through "equal, respectful and mutually beneficial" consultations with its trading partners.

The latest tariff hike, which comes after an additional 20 per cent duties were imposed earlier in 2025, is expected to deal a blow to the Chinese economy. The US, the world's largest consumer market, was China's second-largest export destination in 2024 after Asean.

Chinese customs data showed that China sent US$525 billion (S$700 billion) in goods to the US that year, accounting for almost 15 per cent of its total exports.