China hits back at President Trump, imposes 34% tariff on all US goods

 

The Chinese government has announced its decision to levy a 34% tariff on all American imports starting next week.

The tariff rate, effective April 10, equals the "reciprocal" duty implemented by US President Donald Trump earlier this week.

"For all imported goods originating from the US, an additional tariff of 34 percent on top of the current applicable tariff rate will be imposed," said Beijing's finance ministry, as quoted by AFP.

Beijing's commerce ministry additionally announced plans to strengthen export restrictions on rare earth elements, crucial components in advanced technology products including semiconductor chips and EV battery systems.

China further announced its intention to challenge the tariffs through legal action at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

This comes as Trump, following market closure on Wednesday, announced a national emergency to implement his comprehensive new tariff strategy, dubbed "Liberation Day" tariffs, which imposes a baseline duty of 10 per cent on almost all imports.

The plan includes higher "reciprocal" duties targeting major allies, including the European Union, Japan, and Israel.

Trump specifically targeted China, one of America's primary trading partners, with particularly harsh tariffs of 34 per cent, supplementing existing trade duties.

Police uncover Yahoo school in Lagos, arrest principal suspects

The Lagos State Police Command has successfully uncovered and dismantled an illegal internet fraud training facility, commonly referred to as a “Yahoo School,” operating in the Iju area of Lagos State.

A statement from the spokesperson of the command, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, says during the successful operation, the Police Detectives arrested four(4) Yahoo experts who were running the notorious school, namely Chibuike Ihejika, 23; Stanley Ihejika, 22; Obiora Oyediba, 26; and Emmanuel Oyediba, 25. 

The other six (6) suspects were their  trainees, all of whom were undergoing training in cybercrime and fraud:  Okorie Henry, Otoh Chisom, 20; Okeke Kwufrochikwu, 26; Uchenna Obeji, 26; Minachi Udochukwu, 12; and Chinedu Ukachukwu, 23.      

‘’Preliminary investigations revealed that the principal suspects of the facility recruited their trainees from Anambra State, engaged them to commit internet fraud and other related crimes. The proceeds from their fraudulent activities were being confiscated by the principal suspects.

All suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, for further discreet investigation and prosecution. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the sponsors who financed the trainees’ enrollment in the school as well as the owner of the facility where these criminal and illegal activities took place. The owner of the facility is hereby warned in his own interest to turn himself in immediately at the SCID Panti from wherever he is hiding.

Hundeyin mentioned that the Lagos State Police Command will ensure that all suspects are charged to court for prosecution upon the conclusion of the investigation into the case.    

He further stated that in line with due process of the law, the underage suspect among them, Minachi Ugochukwu, 12 years old, with healing marks of injuries on his body allegedly inflicted on him by the main principal suspect to compel him into the commission of the criminal acts, is being given medical attention and kept in protective custody till his relatives are identified and reunited with him. 

He urged parents and guardians to monitor the activities of their children and wards to prevent them from being exploited, lured, or compelled into criminal activities.