Washington Vs Beijing: US-China Trade War Escalates

In today's episode of India Global, Has Donald Trump really slammed Chinese imports with a staggering 245 percent tariff? Some headlines say yes; but here's the truth. No, Trump did not announce a brand new 245 percent tariff. A White House fact sheet released April 15th mentioned that some Chinese goods now face up to that rate, but only after stacking multiple tariffs already in place. You see, there's the base tariff. Add in pre-2025 protectionist rates, sector-specific duties, fentanyl-related levies, and Trump's new 125 percent "reciprocal" hike. For a few select items, like Chinese syringes, all these layers combined can reach the eye-popping 245 percent. But it's not a one-size-fits-all policy. Lithium batteries? 173 percent. Wool sweaters? 169. Electric cars? 148. So, no — the sky isn't falling, but the tariff terrain is more tangled than ever. And as Trump teases more trade action, the economic chessboard is only getting more complicated. NDTV's Gaurie Dwivedi speaks with Chief Market Economist Spartan Capital Securities LLC Peter Cardillo to discuss this and more.