Washington, April 16, 2025 – The Trump administration slapped a staggering 245% tariff on Chinese imports late Tuesday, jacking up tensions in a trade war already choking global markets. The White House fact sheet pinned the hike on China’s export curbs—gallium, germanium, antimony—vital for chips and defense tech, accusing Beijing of “deliberate sabotage” (Hindustan Times). China’s 125% counter-tariffs, launched April 11, hit US cars, soybeans, and drugs, but Trump’s escalation dwarfs it, targeting $439 billion in 2024 imports (Reuters).
The jump from 145%—set April 11 after China’s retaliation—adds a 100% levy, including a 20% fentanyl-related duty from March (Times of India). “China’s playing dirty—they pay,” Trump said, framing it as “America First” to shield jobs (The Indian Express). Beijing’s Commerce Ministry called it “economic lunacy,” vowing to “fight to the end” with WTO lawsuits and rare earth bans (The Hindu). Markets tanked—Dow slid 3% Tuesday; Shanghai’s CSI 300 wobbled (Bloomberg). X buzzes—“Trump’s killing trade!”—but some cheer: “China’s getting schooled” (post:2).
India’s sidestepping—our $77.5 billion US exports face just 10% tariffs (IBEF). But Reliance’s Shein deal, banking on Chinese supply chains, teeters (Times of India). “We’re caught in the crossfire,” a Mumbai exporter told The Economic Times. China’s 10 million US-bound workers—3% of its GDP—face layoffs (Goldman Sachs). US consumers brace for pricier phones, toys—90% from China (Business Standard). India’s chance? Textile hubs like Surat eye US gaps, but scaling’s tough (India Today).
This ain’t just tariffs—it’s a global chokehold. Will Trump’s gamble spark talks, or crash economies?
