JAKARTA – The White House has announced that goods originating from China entering the United States are now subject to import tariffs of at least 145%, an increase from the previously announced 125%.

In an official statement released on Thursday (April 10), as quoted by CNN, the White House explained that the 125% "reciprocal" tariff announced by President Donald Trump the day before is an addition to the 20% tariff already in place. This means the tariffs are cumulative.

Until now, it has been unclear whether the US tariff policy on China has been cumulative or not. However, the latest statement from the White House confirms that all tariffs are indeed added together.

Trump linked the 20% tariff to issues of illegal immigration and the entry of fentanyl into the US, which he claims is supported by parties from China.

Additionally, Trump announced an increase in tariffs on goods from China valued below US$800 to 120%, effective May 2 this year.

The implementation of the 145% tariff is the latest US response to China's tariff increases on American products.

In recent weeks, there has been a tit-for-tat exchange between the US and China regarding tariff hikes, exacerbating global market uncertainty and causing sharp declines in stock prices, including in the US.

This latest increase comes as Trump announced a 90-day pause on the implementation of reciprocal tariffs for nearly all countries. During this period, tariffs revert to a universal rate of 10%.

“More than 75 countries have contacted US representatives—including from the Departments of Commerce, Treasury, and USTR—to discuss trade issues such as barriers, currency manipulation, and non-monetary tariffs. He added that, on his advice, these countries chose not to retaliate against US policies in any form,” Trump said on Truth Social on Wednesday (April 9).

However, an exception was made for China. The suspension of new tariffs for 90 days does not apply to the world's second-largest economy. (DK/LM)