China retaliates against Trump with 84% levy on US goods, as EU confirms new US tariffs
Summary
China announces an 84% tariff on US imports, to take effect on Thursday, after Donald Trump imposed a 104% tariff on Chinese goods entering the US
The Chinese tariff is an increase from the 34% it already imposed on American imports - China is not backing down, writes our correspondent in Beijing, Stephen McDonell
As China announced its retaliation, Trump urged companies to relocate to the US, writing: "Don't wait, do it now!"
Meanwhile, the EU has voted to impose tariffs on some US imported goods from 15 April - more goods are due to be hit in May and December
Trump says countries hit by his tariffs are calling up and "kissing my ass" in a bid to negotiate, as he tells the US to "be cool" as "everything will work out"
Markets tracker: US markets see mixed trading at opening, while European markets drop further. Meanwhile, investors are selling their long term US government bonds - traditionally considered a "safe haven" asset
China, EU, Canada: How some countries are hitting back
As Trump's tariffs on the 60 countries he calls the "worst offenders" came into effect there has been a flurry of reaction - including retaliatory measures. Here's the latest from three key US trade partners:
China
- In February, Trump announced a 10% tariff rate on almost all Chinese goods entering the US. China responded with various tariffs of 10-15% on certain US products, the US then escalated to a 20% tariff rate on Chinese goods
- On 3 April, Trump raised tariffs to 54% on Chinese imports. China responded with a 34% tariff on most US goods
- Last night, Trump imposed an additional 50% tariff, bringing the total on Chinese goods to 104% after China refused to withdraw its retaliatory levy on the US. China has now raised its tariff on US imports to 84%
Revealed: Big tech’s new datacentres will take water from the world’s driest areas
Luke Barratt, Costanza Gambarini and data graphics by Andrew Witherspoon and Aliya Uteuova
Wed 9 Apr 2025 12.30 BST
Amazon, Google and Microsoft are building datacentres in water-scarce parts of five continents
Amazon, Microsoft and Google are operating datacentres that use vast amounts of water in some of the world’s driest areas and are building many more, the non-profit investigatory organisation SourceMaterial and the Guardian have found.
With Donald Trump pledging to support them, the three technology giants are planning hundreds of datacentres in the US and across the globe, with a potentially huge impact on populations already living with water scarcity.
Pakistan steps up deportations of Afghan refugees
Thousands of Afghans have crossed the border from Pakistan, as the UN and Pakistani officials report that Islamabad is increasing pressure for their return.
Pakistan has expelled thousands of Afghan nationals in the past week in a fresh repatriation drive after a March 31 deadline to leave expired.
Afghans holding Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC), issued by Pakistani authorities and held by 800,000 people, according to the United Nations, were told to leave or face deportation to Afghanistan after the deadline.
On Tuesday, the UNHCR, the UN's Refugee Agency, reported that at least 8,906 Afghan nationals have been deported since April 1.
China rejects claim its citizens are fighting alongside Russia in Ukraine
China on Wednesday rejected "absolutely groundless" claims by Kyiv that "many" Chinese citizens are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said that his military captured two Chinese men fighting with the Russian army in the eastern Donetsk region and has information that “significantly more” are with Russian forces.
China on Wednesday rejected as "absolutely groundless" claims by Kyiv that "many" Chinese citizens are fighting alongside Russian forces against Ukraine.
"The Chinese side's position on the issue of the Ukraine crisis is clear and unequivocal, and has won widespread approval from the international community," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.
The ministry also urged its citizens to avoid conflict zones and participating in wars.
Japanese firms struggle to find areas to mitigate Trump’s tariffs
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
April 9, 2025 at 17:52 JST
To deal with previous trade disputes and related problems, Japanese manufacturers moved their production bases to other countries to get out of harm’s way.
But the “reciprocal” tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump affect pretty much the entire world, leaving no “safe haven” for the companies.
For some exporters, even Japan, with its high labor costs, has become an attractive manufacturing hub.
South Sudanese children die as US aid cuts shutter medical services: NGO
Eight people, including five children, have died after walking for three hours in blistering heat to seek treatment for cholera in South Sudan’s eastern Jonglei state, as United States aid cuts forced local health facilities to close.
The United Kingdom-based global charity Save the Children revealed last month’s deaths on Wednesday, saying they were among the first directly linked to cuts ordered by US President Donald Trump, who slashed funding for global health programmes under his “America First” policy after taking office on January 20.
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