
Trump Slaps 104% Total Tariffs on China, Sparking Fresh Clash
Rabat – US President Donald Trump has sparked a new round of controversy and chaos to the global economy after he imposed a fresh wave of tariffs against China and dozens of partners.
As part of his larger 'Liberation Day' policies to put tariffs on countries, Trump has officially announced he is going through with his threat to tack on a 50% duty on China, raising the total tariff to 104%.
Trump announced on Tuesday at the Republican National Congressional Committee that 104% duties on imports from China will take place shortly after midnight.
At the gathering, Trump openly criticized the former administration's economic policies under former President Joe Biden. As a part of his 2024 campaign messaging, the current US president often remarked that the US has not been hard enough on other countries when it comes to global trade policies.
'Now it's our turn to do the ripping,' he said at the dinner, accusing China of 'ripping off' the US 'right and left.'
He also accused China of manipulating its currency.
'You got to hand it to them. They're manipulating their currency today as an offset against the tariffs,' he claimed.
He further slammed Biden for offering a grant of $6.6 billion to manufacturing giant TSMC, saying: 'If you don't build your plant here, you're going to pay a big tax.'
Biden granted TSMC the grant through the 2022 Chips and Sciences Act, seeking to help the company bring some of its most advanced manufacturing to the US.
Global response
China reacted to US threats and duty announcement, saying that it would take resolute and forceful measures to protect itself.
Yesterday, China's Commerce Ministry said it 'firmly opposes' the additional 50% tariffs on its imports, calling it 'a mistake upon a mistake.'
Following Trump's decision, economic experts, businesses as well as banking organizations around the world responded, pledging a thorough assessment to analyze the effect Trump's tariffs will have on the economy.
Bank of Japan governor Kazuo Ueda told his country's parliament that the bank will be on the watch to monitor the backlash of Trump's move on the Japanese economy.
'Domestic and overseas economic uncertainties have heightened due to US auto and reciprocal tariffs,' he said in a public statement.
The new tariffs will further exacerbate concerns as the world's economy has been shaken by broader baseline 10% tariffs that Trump slapped on many countries over the weekend.
Last week, Trump announced he would be implementing a unilateral 10% tariff on all imports from various nations, with higher levies on goods from different key partners.
The decision prompted remarkable market sell-offs across the world.
'European markets slumped again in early trading on Wednesday morning, as the major indices fell in the UK, Germany, France, and Spain,' the Guardian wrote, noting that the new falls are causing a tumultuous day on Asian markets.
European countries are expected to approve the EU's countermeasures against Trump's tariffs, and Canada is also following suit in pushing back.
Morocco also received the baseline 10% tariff, notably lower than the 30% the US imposed on Algeria and the 28% on Tunisia.
The stock market and global economy is reeling from these new tariffs. S&P 500, a stock market index that tracks the stock performance of 500 leading companies listed on the stock exchanges in the US, reportedly suffered its largest loss since the benchmark's creation in the 1950s.
'It is now nearing a bear market, defined as 20% below its most recent high,' Reuters reported, noting that US treasuries are also affected by the market turmoil. Tags: ChinaEuropean Union
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Ya Biladi
an hour ago
- Ya Biladi
China's Tinci signs investment agreement with Morocco, eyes $280 million electrolyte project
Chinese chemical manufacturer Tinci Materials Technology has signed an investment agreement with the Moroccan government, according to a Reuters notice on Wednesday, June 11. The company plans to invest approximately $280 million in an electrolyte project in Morocco, the same notice states. This is not the first time the investment has been mentioned. In 2023, Tinci announced plans to build a $280 million factory in Morocco to serve the European lithium-ion battery market. At that time, the company highlighted Morocco's abundant phosphate mineral resources as essential for its battery production.


Morocco World
4 hours ago
- Morocco World
Florian Wirtz Set to Jump from Leverkusen to Liverpool
Rabat – Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen have reached a verbal agreement on a €150 million deal for Florian Wirtz, a figure that would make the German player the third most expensive player in the Premier League, and only behind Neymar and Kylian Mbappé on the all-time global transfer list. Wirtz is expected to land in Liverpool within days for a medical and to finalize a deal that would tie him to the club until 2030, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. The 22-year-old joined Bayern Leverkusen in the 2019/2020 season, and since then, has scored 57 goals and 62 assists with the German club. Wirtz was a key player in Leverkusen's unbeaten 2023-24 Bundesliga title run, scoring 11 goals and 12 assists in 32 matches. He followed that with 10 goals and 12 assists this season, plus 6 goals in nine Champions League appearances. Those numbers made him one of the most wanted talented players in European clubs. Liverpool manager Arne Slot sees Wirtz as the connective player between midfield and attack. Whether deployed as a classic No. 10 or drifting from the left in Slot's fluid 4-2-3-1, the German's quick turns, disguised passes, and knack for late-arriving runs should complement Dominik Szoboszlai's ball carrying and Darwin Núñez's movement. Liverpool's owners are making a big but strategic investment. The fee surpasses Caicedo's €133 million move to Chelsea in 2023 and far exceeds the €85 million they paid for Núñez. Liverpool has a history of record-breaking transfers, including Virgil van Dijk, once the world's most expensive defender, and Alisson Becker, the priciest goalkeeper at the time. If Wirtz keeps progressing, the deal could prove smart, and soon, Liverpool fans might be chanting his name at Anfield. Tags: Bayer LeverkusenLiverpool


Morocco World
a day ago
- Morocco World
LA Protests: Tensions Rise Between California Governor and Trump
Rabat — As the protests in Los Angeles stretch into their fifth day, tensions between California's Governor Gavin Newsom and US President Donald Trump have escalated dramatically. The unrest, initially sparked by federal agents targeting the migrant community, has now become a focal point for a fierce political confrontation. Most protests have remained largely peaceful, with many demonstrators calling for justice and reform. However, the situation has become more volatile following the federal government's decision to deploy thousands of troops to LA. Trump initially sent 2,000 National Guardsmen, but has since increased this number by an additional 2,000 troops and activated 700 Marines, further bypassing state authority and raising concerns about militarization and the suppression of civil dissent. A controversial deployment of troops Governor Gavin Newsom condemned this escalation, accusing Trump of 'trying to invoke chaos by sending 4,000 soldiers onto American soil'— inadvertently voicing out a reality that many in the global south have faced under American imperialism under the emblem of democracy. 'US Marines serve a valuable purpose for this country—defending democracy. They are not political pawns,' Newsom stated. 'The Secretary of Defense is illegally deploying them onto American streets so Trump can have a talking point at his parade this weekend,' he said, referencing the upcoming parade scheduled in Washington, DC, on June 14, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US military. Unsurprisingly, this date coincides with Trump's 79th birthday—conveniently aligning with his ego and desire for a grand spectacle. The state is now suing Trump for sending in troops without the governor's permission as it is highly unusual for the American military to have any domestic law enforcement role without a direct request from the governor. In a provocative move, Trump told reporters outside the White House that he would arrest Governor Newsom if he could. 'I would do it if I were Tom Homan,' Trump said, referring to the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 'I think it's great,' Trump added, suggesting he supports the idea of Newsom's arrest. In response, Governor Newsom took to X to condemn the threats, saying, 'This is a day I hoped I would never see in America. I don't care if you're a Democrat or Republican—this is a line we cannot cross as a nation. This is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism.' When asked about the possibility of being arrested, Newsom remarked during an interview with Pod Save America, that he has been seriously considering this possibility which 'says everything you need to know about who's in the White House right now.' Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass echoed concerns about the federal escalation. Speaking to CNN, she argued that the unrest was a direct response to aggressive ICE raids and could have been avoided otherwise. 'This has been a recipe for pandemonium,' she said. Bass emphasized that most protests have been peaceful, only turning unruly after Trump's decision to federalize the National Guard. She insisted that if things had gotten out of control, it was the responsibility of the state—and not the federal government—to request troop deployment. 'We were told he was going to target violent criminals, but what he's really doing is sending troops to a city with a significant immigrant population and long-standing advocacy for immigrant rights,' she said, questioning the rationale behind ICE raids in Los Angeles. 'This makes no sense—particularly when they're happening at places like Home Depot, where people are simply trying to work.' Unsurprisingly, Trump did not recognize the ICE raids, police brutality and troop deployment as underlying causes for the escalating unrest. Instead, he dismissed the protesters as 'professional agitators' and insurrectionists who should be in jail– completely avoiding any acknowledgement of responsibility. Legitimate protests Despite the heightened unrest, Mayor Bass maintains that the National Guard is unnecessary at this stage and that the vandalism and violence are confined to a few streets downtown. She stressed that anyone committing crimes will be detained and that violence is not a legitimate way to promote a cause. Newsom has also urged protesters to remain peaceful, warning that those who take advantage of the chaos will be held accountable. 'If you're protesting peacefully. Stay calm. Look out for another.' However, many activists and observers have contested the idea of a 'peaceful protest,' arguing that protests are inherently disruptive and aimed at challenging the status quo. The LAPD has employed rubber bullets and flash-bangs—stun grenades that produce a bright flash and loud noise—to disperse crowds, claiming these measures are responses to protesters throwing objects at officers. However, footage from 9News showing a journalist being hit by a rubber bullet—despite being clearly identifiable as press and not near the protesting crowds–might suggest otherwise. Often likened to the Gestapo—the secret police agency of Nazi Germany– the US police have deep roots in the country's history of racial discrimination and systemic oppression, with recent incidents highlighting ongoing issues of excessive force against marginalized communities. As tensions escalate around the US, many around the world view this within the broader context of the country's history of violence both domestically and abroad–a natural outcome of the climate of violence and hatred it has fostered.