‘Do not retaliate’: White House warns other nations as Trump slaps China with 125% tariffs

US President Donald Trump (NYT photo)

In a dramatic shift, President Donald Trump on Wednesday hit pause on sweeping tariffs for the majority of US trading partners, announcing a 90-day freeze — except for China, which he targeted with a crushing new tax. The surprise pivot came less than a day after broad new duties triggered turmoil in global markets.
While most nations got a temporary reprieve, Trump delivered a powerful blow to Beijing, imposing a 125 percent tariff on all Chinese imports. China immediately retaliated, slapping 84 percent tariffs on American goods, according to state-run Xinhua. The tit-for-tat measures mark a dangerous new peak in the ongoing trade standoff between the world’s top two economies.
Despite the global implications, the White House doubled down on its pressure campaign. “Do not retaliate and you will be rewarded,” read a blunt message to other nations — an apparent warning to stay in line or face consequences.
China, however, stood its ground. The Chinese Commerce Ministry criticised the US levies as a violation of international norms and vowed to protect its interests. “I want to emphasize that there is no winner in a trade war, and that China does not want a trade war. But the Chinese government will by no means sit by when the legitimate rights and interests of its people are being hurt and deprived,” a ministry official stated.
The new Chinese tariffs took effect just after noon Thursday. Hours earlier, a government spokesperson had warned that the US actions undermined the “legitimate interests of all countries.”

Trump’s decision to pause tariffs on most other nations appears to have been influenced by the chaos that unfolded in financial markets over the past week. Stock markets lost trillions in value, and US Treasury yields spiked, creating widespread anxiety among investors and consumers.
“I thought that people were jumping a little bit out of line, they were getting yippy, you know,” Trump said, using a golf metaphor to downplay the panic. He later admitted the financial fallout had factored into his reversal, adding, “You have to be flexible.”
This isn’t the first time Trump has backed off aggressive trade moves at the last minute. Since returning to office in January, he has repeatedly threatened harsh tariffs, only to scale them back or delay implementation. As a result, many world leaders and corporate executives have struggled to predict or respond to US trade policy.
Despite the pause, a 10 percent universal tariff remains in place for nearly all imports, and specific duties on steel, aluminum, and autos are still active. Additionally, Canada and Mexico are not fully exempt: their goods face a 25 percent fentanyl-related tariff unless they meet conditions under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
White House officials offered conflicting explanations for the sudden shift. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed the rollback was always part of a strategy to lure countries to the negotiating table. But Trump seemed to hint otherwise, referencing the recent market reaction: “You have to be flexible.”

Experts say Trump’s gesture may calm nerves in some capitals but will likely do little to move China. “China is unlikely to change its strategy: stand firm, absorb pressure, and let Trump overplay his hand,” said Daniel Russel, vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute. “Beijing believes Trump sees concessions as a weakness, so giving ground only invites more pressure.”
Russel also warned that America’s unpredictable approach to trade policy—characterized by dramatic U-turns and erratic threats—risks breeding long-term distrust. “Other countries will welcome the 90-day stay of execution—if it lasts—but the whiplash from constant zigzags creates more of the uncertainty that businesses and governments hate,” he added.
Still, Trump hinted that China might eventually come to the table. “China wants to make a deal,” he said. “They just don’t know how quite to go about it.” Despite this, White House aides have said they plan to prioritize negotiations with other countries before engaging Beijing further.