The US will impose a 104% tariff on China beginning Thursday (Manila time), as Washington said that it was a mistake for Beijing to retaliate with 34% duties on American imports.

To recall, US President Donald Trump ordered 34% tariffs on all products from China, to which Beijing responded by imposing the same level of duties on American imports.

“There will be 104% tariffs going into effect on China tonight at midnight,” spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday.

Trump believes China “has to make a deal” with the US, Leavitt said. “It was a mistake for China to retaliate.”

If China reaches out to make a deal, she said Trump will be “incredibly gracious.”

“But he’s going to do what’s best for the American people. … The Chinese want to make a deal. They just don’t know how to do it,” she said.

Nearly 70 countries have already reached out to the US for negotiations on tariffs.

Trump announced the imposition of a 10% minimum tariff on all imports and higher reciprocal tariffs on the US’ biggest trading partners, including China and the European Union.

The US president also directed his country’s trade team to start making deals with each individual country.

“He directed them to have tailor-made trade deals with each and every country that calls up this administration to strike a deal,” she added.

“As the president said, the reciprocal tariffs, which will continue to go in effect as these deals are negotiated and ongoing, will generate trillions of dollars in revenue to the United States,” she said.

ANADOLU PHOTO