NextFin news, BEIJING, Sunday, October 12, 2025 – Residents of Beijing showed little concern on Saturday following US President Donald Trump’s announcement on October 10 that the United States would impose a 100% tariff on all Chinese imports effective November 1, 2025, or sooner. The tariff threat was issued in retaliation against China’s new export control measures on strategic rare-earth materials.
Trump’s announcement also cast doubt on a planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, further straining US-China relations. Despite the severity of the tariff threat, Beijing residents interviewed outside shopping malls and workplaces expressed a sense of calm and confidence in China’s economic resilience.
“I felt nothing when I first saw the news,” said Liu Ming, a 48-year-old software company employee. Many others echoed similar sentiments, indicating that they were unfazed by the tariff threat and skeptical about its impact on their daily lives.
Chinese government ministries, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce, declined to comment publicly on the tariff threat when approached by news agencies on Saturday.
The tariff escalation comes amid ongoing trade tensions between the US and China, with the US citing concerns over China’s export controls in critical sectors. The move is expected to impact bilateral trade significantly, though local reactions in Beijing suggest a degree of public confidence in China’s ability to withstand economic pressure.
Observers note that while the tariff threat is a significant development in the US-China trade dispute, the immediate reaction among Beijing residents appears muted, reflecting either a belief in the government’s capacity to manage the situation or skepticism about the effectiveness of the tariffs.
The situation remains fluid as both countries navigate complex economic and diplomatic challenges. Further official responses from Beijing and Washington are anticipated in the coming days.
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