Beijing Raises U.S. Tariffs from 34% to 84% as Tensions Soar; Cites Security Concerns for Chinese Travellers Visiting America
Beijing [China], April 9: As trade tensions between the United States and China continue to escalate, China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism has issued a travel advisory warning its citizens about potential risks when visiting the U.S., citing both deteriorating diplomatic relations and domestic security concerns.
Published on the ministry’s official website, the alert urges Chinese travellers to evaluate risks carefully and exercise caution while planning trips to the United States. The advisory comes at a time of heightened economic and political strain between the world’s two largest economies.
Simultaneously, China announced a massive increase in tariffs on U.S. imports, raising them from 34% to 84%, effective April 10. This dramatic move comes in retaliation to the 104% tariff hike imposed by the United States, as confirmed by Al Jazeera.
The latest developments are part of a fast-developing tit-for-tat trade war. U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier warned of an additional 50% tariff unless China rolled back its own 34% tariff increase within 24 hours. Beijing responded by matching Trump’s proposed hike, further inflaming tensions and prompting markets to reel from the ongoing uncertainty.
According to a spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Commerce, Beijing views Washington’s tariff increases as “groundless” and described them as acts of “unilateral bullying.”
The tariff exchange was triggered following Trump’s announcement on April 2—“Liberation Day”—when the U.S. introduced steep new trade penalties aimed at curbing Chinese imports. The situation has since snowballed, with both countries aggressively imposing new levies in response to each other’s moves.
As trade negotiations stall and diplomatic dialogue hangs in the balance, travel safety, economic fallout, and geopolitical uncertainty are all set to deepen in the coming weeks.