China Amplifies Tariffs On U.S. Goods To 125% In Strategic Response

by News Editor

April 11, 2025

In a significant geopolitical move, China has announced a dramatic increase in tariffs on imported goods from the United States, pushing rates to 125%. This development is seen as a strategic countermeasure to the U.S.’s imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese exports, further entrenching the ongoing trade battle between these two global powerhouses.

Key Insights

The jump in tariffs represents a 40% escalation from China’s previous rates and underscores the intensifying trade tensions between the nations.
China’s Ministry of Commerce has declared this decision as definitive, hinting that there would be no further retaliations even if the U.S. escalates its tariff policies again.
The Chinese government claims U.S. tariffs are exorbitantly high, violating international norms and economic principles.
This announcement coincided with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s remarks during a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanche in Beijing, where he emphasized that no one emerges victorious in a tariff war.
President Xi has also urged the European Union to support China against what he describes as U.S. ‘bullying’.

Market Reaction

The announcement negatively affected European stock markets, with key indices dipping. The UK’s FTSE 100 fell by 0.47%, France’s CAC 40 decreased by 0.92%, and Germany’s Dax tumbled by 1.53%. These declines suggest investor pessimism, expecting diminished corporate profits across the board.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Cyprus Fuel Prices Jump 20.5% As Energy Costs Rise Across The EU

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 24, 2026

Cyprus recorded a 20.5% year-on-year increase in the prices of fuels and lubricants for personal transport in May 2026, according to Eurostat data released on Monday.

The increase was broadly in line with the European Union average of 20.7%, with fuel and lubricant prices rising across all EU member states during the period.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Cyprus Tracks The EU Average

Among EU countries, the largest annual increases were recorded in Bulgaria (33.9%), Luxembourg (32.2%), Lithuania (30.8%) and Romania (30.4%). At the other end of the scale, Hungary registered the smallest increase at 3.5%, while annual growth ranged from 12.7% in Poland to 29.2% in France across the remaining member states.

Eurostat noted that fuel and lubricant prices generally declined across the EU until February 2026 before moving higher in subsequent months.

Diesel And Petrol Follow Different Paths

Across the European Union, diesel prices increased by 29% in May 2026 compared with the same month a year earlier, while petrol prices rose by 16.2%. Monthly trends, however, were more mixed. Between April and May 2026, diesel prices across the EU fell by 5.8%, whereas petrol prices increased by 0.8%.

In Cyprus, diesel prices declined by 1.5% over the same period. Although lower than in April, the decrease was less pronounced than in Germany (-11.9%), Greece (-8.5%), Estonia (-8.4%) and Ireland (-8.1%).

Petrol prices moved in the opposite direction, rising by 2.1% between April and May. A similar pattern was observed across much of the EU, with 23 member states reporting monthly increases. Italy recorded the largest monthly rise in petrol prices at 6.9%, while decreases were reported in Germany (-5.6%), Ireland (-2.0%) and Sweden (-0.7%).

Breaking news