Gloves are off: Global trade war gets fiercer as Trump's tariffs trigger strong backlash from foes and others

Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs have landed, triggering measured responses from key trading partners who seem unwilling to ignite a full-blown trade war—at least for now. Branded as “reciprocal tariffs” and ranging from 10% to 49%, the new import taxes, according to Trump, are simply the U.S. giving back what it has endured for decades.

“Taxpayers have been ripped off for more than 50 years,” he declared, vowing that “it is not going to happen anymore.” Promising a resurgence of jobs and factories, Trump framed the move as more than just economics—he called it a national security necessity that threatens “our very way of life.”

Here are the first reactions:

China
Beijing said it «firmly opposes» the new tariffs on its exports, and vowed «countermeasures to safeguard its own rights and interests».

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US tariffs «do not comply with international trade rules and seriously harm the legitimate rights and interests of the relevant parties», the Commerce Ministry said.

Germany
The German Automotive Industry Association (VDA) said the tariffs would «only create losers».

«The EU is now called upon to act together and with necessary force, while continuing to signal its willingness to negotiate,» the VDA said.

The German chemical industry, which counts the United States as its largest export market, urged the EU to «keep a cool head», stressing «an escalation would only worsen the damage».

Japan
After being hit with a 24 percent US levy on its exports, Japan's trade minister Yoji Muto criticised the measure.

«The unilateral tariff measures taken by the US are extremely regrettable, and I have again strongly urged (Washington) not to apply them to Japan,» he said.

Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa