Beijing, 11 April 2025 (dpa/MIA) - China is raising tariffs on US goods from 84% to 125%, authorities said on Friday, as the trade war unleashed by US President Donald Trump continues to escalate.

The counter-measure is scheduled to take effect on April 12, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council said in a statement.

The announcement came after Washington clarified on Thursday that China actually faced a tariff rate of 145% on imports to the United States, not 125% as earlier stated.

Trump's tariff hikes have triggered market turmoil and fears of a global economic slowdown.

While the US president has since paused many country-specific tariffs, including for the European Union, he has intensified levies on China.

"The US's imposition of abnormally high tariffs on China seriously violates international economic and trade rules, basic economic laws and common sense," the Customs Tariff Commission said, adding that Washington was using "bullying" tactics.

According to the statement, Beijing will "ignore" any further US tariff hikes on Chinese goods as the current levies mean that there is no market acceptance for US goods on the Chinese markets anymore.

Trump has justified the latest increase in fees on Chinese imports by claiming that Beijing showed a "lack of respect" for world markets.

China had previously vowed to "fight to the end" in the tariff dispute and accused the US of extortion.

Meanwhile Beijing has been looking to improve ties with other trading partners, including the European Union.

Talks with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Beijing on Friday centred on EU cooperation amid the current trade conflict, after EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Chinese Trade Minister Wang Wentao spoke on the phone earlier this week to discuss expanding trade relations.