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The United States has imposed new tariffs of up to 245% on Chinese imports in response to Beijing's retaliatory trade actions, the White House announced late Tuesday.
The move is part of a broader national security review of critical imports and follows China’s decision to suspend exports of key high-tech materials, including heavy rare earth metals and magnets, that are vital to sectors such as automotive, aerospace, semiconductors, and defense.
“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 in a statement, noting the new measures were justified under national security grounds.
The statement pointed to a series of actions taken by China, including the recent ban on exports of gallium, germanium, antimony, and other strategic materials with potential military applications. “Just this week, China suspended exports of six heavy rare earth metals, as well as rare earth magnets… to choke off supplies,” the administration said.
The White House emphasized that President Trump’s “America First” trade policy, initiated on Day One of his presidency, was aimed at restoring economic strength and independence. “More than 75 countries have already reached out to discuss new trade deals. As a result, the individualized higher tariffs are currently paused amid these discussions—except for China, which retaliated,” it added.
While the exact tariff rate imposed on China remains unspecified, officials signaled that the duties could rise to as high as 245%, sharply escalating trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
Last Friday, China raised tariffs on US goods to 125%, a tit-for-tat move against Trump’s earlier announcement increasing tariffs on Chinese goods to 145% while temporarily pausing new duties on imports from other nations.
The White House has yet to clarify whether further tariff hikes or export controls will follow as the national security probe continues.
English (US) · 