China Faces up to 245% Tariffs from US as Trade War Deepens, China Appoints New Negotiator
Moneylife Digital Team 16 April 2025
The US-China trade war has entered a new and sharply escalated phase, with the White House announcing that tariffs on Chinese imports could soar as high as 245%, citing Beijing’s retaliatory actions.
 
In a further sign of deteriorating ties, US president Donald Trump took to Truth Social to accuse China of backing out of a major aviation deal. “China just reneged on the big Boeing deal, saying that they will ‘not take possession’ of fully committed to aircraft,” he posted, appearing to confirm reports that Chinese authorities had instructed domestic airlines to suspend deliveries from US aerospace giant Boeing.
 
 
Amid this mounting tension, China on Wednesday announced the appointment of a new top trade negotiator, signalling potential readiness for renewed dialogue. Li Chenggang, previously China’s Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), replaces Wang Shouwen, who played a key role in the 2020 trade pact between the two economic giants.
 
Analysts see Mr Li’s appointment as a diplomatic overture from Beijing, hinting at a possible return to the negotiating table. His experience with global trade frameworks is expected to help navigate the deepening crisis, especially after president Trump remarked that 'the ball is in Beijing’s court' to resolve the impasse.
 
Despite the personnel shift, uncertainty looms over whether formal talks will resume, with Trump administration showing no signs of backing down from the newly imposed punitive tariffs and Beijing reportedly preparing countermeasures.
 
The fallout from the trade standoff is expected to have far-reaching consequences across global supply chains, financial markets and key sectors like aerospace, technology and manufacturing.
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