Even 245 percent tariffs. China: US duties have reached an irrational level

A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Trade stated on Wednesday that American duties on the import of Chinese products “reached an irrational level”. He commented on the publication of the White House, in which it was written that some Chinese goods exported to the USA are subject to a festival “reaching up to 245 percent”

“Cumulative duties to individual goods exported from China to the United States reached 245 percent under different names,” wrote a spokesman for the Ministry of Trade in response to the question of journalists. “It fully exposes the fact that the United States use customs tariffs as a tool and weapon for the borders of irrationality,” argued the spokesman.

The representative of the ministry repeated the earlier position of the authorities in Beijing, emphasizing that China is currently “ignoring the senseless number of the US.

“However, if the United States insist on further significant violation of China's rights and interests, China will definitely counteract them and fight to the end” – he concluded.

Initially, it was unclear why in the information material, published on Tuesday evening of local time by the White House on websites, in the Section dedicated to the Festhern, it was written that “Due to Chinese retaliation, Chinese goods imported to the United States are now covered by festival up to 245 %.” Earlier, neither US President Donald Trump or the White House officially informed about the increase in customs duties to 245 percent.

According to PAP, the White House updated the document on Wednesday, without changing the publication date given in the header of April 15-16 and without informing that this is a corrected version. The analysis shows that in the updated publication only a item was added to information about duties on products from China: “This includes 125 percent of mutual customs tariff, 20 % customs tariff aimed at solving the crisis associated with Fentanyl and customs tariffs from section 301 to specific goods, from 7.5 percent to 100 %.”

Last week, the New York Times in his analysis regarding the real amount of customs rates, which are currently subject to Chinese products, calculated that in the case of syringes imported from China, which before the introduction of duties from 2025 were covered by a 100 % tariff, after adding “mutual duties” in the amount of 145 percent. The actual rate reaches 245 percent. However, there are products such as children's books that are covered by “zero” stake.

From Beijing Krzysztof Pawliszak (PAP)

KRP/ MAL/