Trump: “Ball In China’s Court” As US Hikes Tariffs To 245%

US President Trump has stated that the ball is now in China’s court, as the US has raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 245%, intensifying the ongoing trade tensions between the two nations.

The trade tensions between the United States and China have intensified as US President Donald Trump has again urged China to begin negotiations.

He stated clearly that the US doesn’t need a trade deal, but China does. “The ball is in China’s court. China needs to make a deal with us. We don’t have to make a deal with them,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday.

The US has now raised tariffs on Chinese goods to an astonishing 245%, aiming to push Beijing into talks. According to Leavitt, China is no different from any other country, except it is larger and highly dependent on access to the American market. She added, “China wants what we have — the American consumer… or to put it another way, they need our money.”

In response, China criticized the US for what it called “bullying.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said, “If the US truly wants to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiation, it should stop using maximum pressure and stop threats and blackmail.” He emphasized that any meaningful dialogue must be based on “equality, respect, and mutual benefit.”

As part of its diplomatic response, China appointed Li Chenggang as its new representative for international trade negotiations, replacing Wang Shouwen. This move comes as President Xi Jinping continues a diplomatic tour in Southeast Asia, trying to present China as a more stable and reliable global partner than the United States.

Meanwhile, China also ordered its airlines not to accept further deliveries of Boeing aircraft, signaling further retaliation against US trade policies.

President Trump’s administration has imposed similar tariffs on other countries with which the US runs a trade deficit. However, many of those tariffs have been paused for 90 days as negotiations begin. “More than 75 countries have already reached out to discuss new trade deals,” the White House noted. But it also made it clear that China remains the exception, as it chose to retaliate rather than cooperate.

At the moment, a general 10% tariff still applies to all US imports, unless otherwise paused.

Despite these growing trade tensions, China’s economy showed surprising strength in early 2025. According to official data, China’s GDP rose by 5.4% in the first quarter — better than expected. The growth reflects strong export activity in late 2024, before the new US tariffs fully took effect.
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