New Delhi, April 8 -- The White House on Tuesday (April 8) confirmed that steep 104% tariffs on Chinese goods will officially gone into effect, marking a dramatic escalation in trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. The additional duties will be collected starting April 9, as announced by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

The tariff hike is part of a broader strategy by President Donald Trump to counter what he calls "long-term trading abuses" by China. The move follows escalating grievances over persistent trade deficits, and most recently, fentanyl trafficking allegedly linked to Chinese entities.

"Other countries are ripping off the United States," Trump has repeatedly argued, defending his aggressive use of tari...