As tensions deepen in the US-China trade war , Beijing appears to be shifting tactics by addressing the American public directly, instead of engaging solely with the Trump administration. In its latest effort, China has launched a social media campaign to counter the prevailing belief among many Americans that tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump primarily hurt foreign economies.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) featuring a man portrayed as a US importer. The video targets American citizens, particularly Trump supporters, with a warning that tariffs on Chinese imports ultimately burden US consumers. “Foreign countries pay the tariffs? No – US businesses pay, then pass costs to you. Tariffs don’t bring manufacturing back. They’re just a tax on Americans,” Mao wrote in the caption.
The message was timed alongside renewed hostilities in the ongoing trade dispute. On Wednesday, Trump announced an increase in tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%, prompting a retaliatory move from Beijing, which raised its own tariffs on American imports to 125% by Friday. The tit-for-tat measures have pushed bilateral trade—valued at over $650 billion in 2024—toward a potential breakdown, analysts warn.
While Trump insists the tariffs are paid by foreign exporters—telling reporters on Air Force One, “We can set the tariff, and they can choose not to deal with us or they can choose to pay it”—economists and trade experts point out that the importers, not foreign suppliers, shoulder the cost. These costs are usually passed on to consumers through higher prices.
Still, Trump has left the door open for negotiations. “The president made it very clear: When the United States is punched, he will punch back harder,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Friday, even as Trump praised Chinese President Xi Jinping, suggesting a deal might be possible.
Meanwhile, in a separate move, the Trump administration announced exemptions for certain electronics from the punitive tariffs, providing relief for major tech companies like Apple and Dell. The US Customs and Border Protection agency issued a notice listing 20 product categories—including computers, semiconductors, memory chips and displays—that will be excluded retroactively from April 5.
The exemption also applies to Trump’s 10% “baseline” tariffs on imports from most countries, excluding China, effectively lowering costs on key tech components from Taiwan and India.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) featuring a man portrayed as a US importer. The video targets American citizens, particularly Trump supporters, with a warning that tariffs on Chinese imports ultimately burden US consumers. “Foreign countries pay the tariffs? No – US businesses pay, then pass costs to you. Tariffs don’t bring manufacturing back. They’re just a tax on Americans,” Mao wrote in the caption.
Foreign countries pay the tariffs? No—US businesses pay, then pass costs to you.
— Mao Ning 毛宁 (@SpoxCHN_MaoNing) April 12, 2025
Tariffs don’t bring manufacturing back. They’re just a tax on Americans. pic.twitter.com/iOw3IrFpiQ
The message was timed alongside renewed hostilities in the ongoing trade dispute. On Wednesday, Trump announced an increase in tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%, prompting a retaliatory move from Beijing, which raised its own tariffs on American imports to 125% by Friday. The tit-for-tat measures have pushed bilateral trade—valued at over $650 billion in 2024—toward a potential breakdown, analysts warn.
While Trump insists the tariffs are paid by foreign exporters—telling reporters on Air Force One, “We can set the tariff, and they can choose not to deal with us or they can choose to pay it”—economists and trade experts point out that the importers, not foreign suppliers, shoulder the cost. These costs are usually passed on to consumers through higher prices.
Still, Trump has left the door open for negotiations. “The president made it very clear: When the United States is punched, he will punch back harder,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Friday, even as Trump praised Chinese President Xi Jinping, suggesting a deal might be possible.
Meanwhile, in a separate move, the Trump administration announced exemptions for certain electronics from the punitive tariffs, providing relief for major tech companies like Apple and Dell. The US Customs and Border Protection agency issued a notice listing 20 product categories—including computers, semiconductors, memory chips and displays—that will be excluded retroactively from April 5.
The exemption also applies to Trump’s 10% “baseline” tariffs on imports from most countries, excluding China, effectively lowering costs on key tech components from Taiwan and India.
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