They’re just a tax on Americans: China has a message for US citizens amid the ongoing trade war

China is now communicating directly with the American public amid the war of words against the US over President Donald Trump's tariffs.

The war of words between the US and China over President Donald Trump’s escalating tariffs has taken a new turn, with Beijing now aiming its message directly at the American public.

In its latest message, China has warned that ordinary American citizens, and not foreign countries, would bear the cost of Trump's aggressive trade policies.


Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning posted a video on X featuring a man claiming to be a US importer. In the clip, he addresses Trump supporters and the broader American public, warning that the tariffs would shoot up prices of several products.

Mao captioned the post: "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."


The message signals a shift in China's strategy to communicate with the US citizens and challenge the narrative that tariffs target foreign economies without domestic consequences.

The post comes at a time when economic tension is rising between the two countries. Trump recently announced a steep increase in tariffs on Chinese goods, calling them “reciprocal tariffs.”

These measures have escalated the ongoing trade conflict, with both sides using steep duties as tools in a widening economic standoff.

Trump temporarily paused tariffs on imports from all countries for 90 days on April 9. However, only China was excluded and the tariffs on the country was further increased to 125 per cent, underscoring Washington’s intent to isolate Beijing and apply maximum economic pressure.

China has warned of long term effects on global trade if the dispute continues to grow.