TARIFFS: China Announces 34% Retaliatory Tariffs, Focus Turns To US Reaction
(MNI) London - As noted earlier (see 'CHINA: USD/CNH Snaps Higher As China Unveil Counter-Tariffs', 1110BST) , the Chinese State Council Tariff Commission has issued a statement confirming tariffs against US goods in the first major retaliatory act against US President Donald Trump's 'reciprocal' tariffs. The statement says that "This practice of the US is not in line with international trade rules, seriously undermines China's legitimate rights and interests, and is a typical unilateral bullying practice." The Commission confirms the retaliatory tariffs will come into force from 1201 local time on 10 April.
The measures in full are as follows:
A 34% tariff will be imposed on all imported goods originating from the United States on the basis of the current applicable tariff rate.
The current bonded, tax reduction and exemption policies remain unchanged, and the additional tariffs will not be reduced or exempted.
If the goods have been shipped from the place of departure before 12:01 on April 10, 2025, and are imported between 12:01 on April 10, 2025 and 24:00 on May 13, 2025, the additional tariffs prescribed in this announcement will not be levied.
Focus will now turn towards the reaction of the US, with regards to whether there will be further hikes in tariffs or if negotiations might be possible. White House Council of Economic Advisers Chair Stephen Miran spoke to MNI on tariff retaliation in a 3 April interview. See 'MNI INTERVIEW: Tariff Benefits Loom Despite Some Fallout-Miran' or contact sales@marketnews.com for access.
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BONDS: German Yields remain elevated
German longer end Yields have led rallies Yesterday and into Today, both the 10yr and the 30yr have printed their highest levels since November 2023.
Looking at the shorter end 5s (Bobl), the Yield has managed to break above the February high but is still some way short of the January 2025 high of 2.463%, which was also its highest printed level since mid November 2024.
For the 2yr (Schatz) Yield, the February high comes at 2.187%, while most would be looking for resistance at 2.20% initially.
Today, reference 106.725:
- 2.187% = 106.685.
- 2.200% = 106.665.
FOREX: EURAUD Winning Streak Extends to Nine Sessions
- Last night’s German fiscal reform headlines have provided fresh impetus for a broad single currency rally, with analysts continuing to cite the historic unveiling of Germany’s potential fiscal policy shift. Developments have fostered the latest bullish narrative for a number of EUR crosses.
- Standing out on a short-term basis is EURJPY, which has extended its recovery from yesterday’s lows to 2.94%, and notably the cross is now back above the psychological pivot point of 160.00. Yesterday, we wrote about how dips below 155.00 have been well supported over the past 18 months. Spot has now broken back above key short-term resistance at 159.52, the 50-day EMA, signalling scope for a stronger recovery. 161.19, the Feb 13 high has been defined as the technical bull trigger.
- EURAUD appreciation is also gathering significant pace, and today’s 0.6% advance looks set to extend its winning streak to 9 consecutive sessions, and total gains of around 3.85%. The last time we had a longer winning streak was back in December 2012, where EURAUD advanced for 11 sessions in a row and rose 3.36%.
- The higher beta AUD remains sensitive to the outlook for global risk sentiment, being impacted by both the tariff narrative / impact on China and the imminent stagflationary concerns in the US. EURAUD momentum gained on a break of 1.6800 on Monday, and the cross is eroding the gap towards the blowout top seen prior to the US election, located at 1.7184.
EGBS: German Fiscal Reform and 30-year Syndication Set The Tone
German yields are sharply higher after incoming German Chancellor Merz announced a proposal to reform the debt brake and set up a E500bln infrastructure fund last night. Although today’s 30-year syndication has added extra pressure to the long-end, 10-year tenors underperform at typing (+19bps today), with Schatz yields up 13bps and 30-year yields up 17bps.
- Bund futures (RXM5) are -211 ticks below yesterday’s settlement levels at 129.24. The session low at 128.77 provides initial support, with 128.68 (1.618 proj of the Feb 5 - 19 - 28 price swing) seen next.
- German ASWs (vs 3-month Euribor) have registered fresh year-to-date or cycle lows this morning, with the long-end unsurprisingly leading the move.
- 10-year EGB spreads to Bunds tighten on the back of German paper’s underperformance, while rallying European equities provide an additional narrowing catalyst for peripherals.
- Eurozone January PPI was stronger-than-expected, while the February services PMIs also signalled increasing cost pressures.
- Broader macro focus remains on any further German fiscal details, fresh US tariff headline flow (after US Commerce Secretary Lutnick suggested Canada/Mexico tariffs could be rolled back to some extent yesterday evening) and today’s US data.
