China to slap extra 34% tariffs on US imports from April 10

The Chinese government said on Friday it would slap 34 per cent tariffs on all imports of US goods from April 10, after Washington imposed steep new levies on Chinese products.

Beijing also imposed exports controls on seven rare earth elements, its commerce ministry said, including gadolinium — commonly used in MRIs — and yttrium, which is used in consumer electronics.

“The purpose of the Chinese government’s implementation of export controls on relevant items in accordance with the law is to better safeguard national security and interests, and to fulfil international obligations such as non-proliferation,” the Commerce Ministry said in a statement.

It also added 11 entities to the “unreliable entity” list, which allows Beijing to take punitive actions against foreign entities.

Trump imposed tariffs on a wide range of Chinese imports in his first term as president to pressure US companies to bring manufacturing either back to the United States or to nearby countries such as Mexico, but Apple secured exemptions or waivers for several products. This time, he has not yet granted any exemptions.