President Donald Trump’s administration has revealed a significant new tariff reaching as high as 245% on imports from China, greatly intensifying the trade dispute between the United States and China. The choice, outlined in a fact sheet published late Tuesday by the White House, is a reaction to Beijing’s recent export limitations and counter tariffs.
“China now faces up to a 245% tariff on imports to the United States as a result of its retaliatory actions,” the White House said, emphasizing the move as part of Trump’s ongoing “America First Trade Policy.”
The administration accused China of deliberately restricting vital high-tech materials, including gallium, germanium, and antimony – elements critical for military, aerospace, and semiconductor industries. More recently, China suspended exports of six heavy rare earth metals and rare earth magnets, tightening the grip on components essential to global supply chains.
“A few months ago, China banned exports to the United States of gallium, germanium, antimony, and other key high-tech materials with potential military applications,” the statement said. “Just this week, China suspended exports of six heavy rare earth metals, as well as rare earth magnets, in order to choke off supplies of components central to automakers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies and military contractors around the world.”
In a reciprocal escalation, China increased its tariffs on American products to 125% last Friday. That action occurred shortly after President Trump raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 145%, while delaying new tariffs on products from other nations for 90 days.
Although the new tariffs have a wide scope, the administration pointed out that other nations are presently exempt because of active trade discussions. “More than 75 countries have already reached out to discuss new trade deals,” the White House said. “As a result, the individualized higher tariffs are currently paused amid these discussions, except for China, which retaliated.”
