Overview

• On April 8, 2025, President Trump imposed a 104% tariff on Chinese imports, citing China’s failure to roll back its earlier 34% tariff on U.S. goods.
• China responded on April 9, 2025, with an 84% retaliatory tariff on U.S. products, further escalating the trade dispute.
• The conflict has expanded onto social media, with viral memes and AI-generated videos mocking both nations, reflecting public engagement with the trade tensions.
• Social media platforms like TikTok, Twitter/X, and Douyin have become arenas for a 'China vs. U.S. meme war,' amplifying the cultural dimensions of the economic conflict.
• Global markets are expressing concern over the escalating tariffs, with the trade war signaling broader geopolitical and economic ramifications.