China has announced an increase in duties on American goods to 125% in response to Washington's recent actions related to the increase in tariffs by Donald Trump. The new rates, which exceed the previously announced 84%, will take effect on Saturday and will become another round of escalation in the trade conflict between the world's two largest economies. The Chinese Ministry of Finance described the US actions as unilateral pressure that violates international economic norms, basic laws of economics and common sense. The agency stressed that such high tariffs represent economic coercion. President Trump had previously announced that the overall increase in duties on Chinese goods had reached 145% during his second term. His administration also clarified that the increase to 125% includes the already existing 20% duty imposed earlier in response to China's alleged role in supplying the banned substance fentanyl to the United States.
