On April 10, 2025, the United States government unilaterally announced an escalation of its “reciprocal tariff” policy by increasing punitive tariffs on Chinese exports to a rate of 125%. In response, the Tariff Policy Commission of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China issued Announcement No. 6 [2025] of the Tariff Policy Commission on April 11, 2025, implementing retaliatory adjustments to tariffs on imports originating in the United States.
1. Tariff Adjustment on U.S.-Origin Goods
Effective from April 12, 2025, the Tariff Commission has raised the additional tariff rate imposed on certain goods originating from the United States from 84% to 125%, as previously set under Announcement No. 5 of 2025. This adjustment reflects China’s formal retaliation against what it characterizes as the United States’ “unilateral coercive actions” that violate multilateral trade disciplines.
The announcement explicitly states:
“In light of the current tariff level, U.S. exports to China are no longer commercially viable. Should the United States persist in imposing further tariff increases on Chinese goods, China will not respond further.”
This signals China’s position that the economic rationale for ongoing reciprocal measures may soon be exhausted due to diminishing trade flows, while still preserving its legal stance against U.S. actions.
2. Continuation of Earlier Measures
Other measures announced under Tariff Policy Commission Announcement No. 4 of 2025 remain in force. This includes the categories of goods subject to retaliatory tariffs and procedural mechanisms for customs implementation. Thus, Announcement No. 6 operates as a targeted modification of the applicable tariff rate rather than a comprehensive overhaul of China’s retaliatory regime.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For case-specific consultation, please contact us. Read our full Legal Disclaimer, which also includes information on translation accuracy.
