In a significant escalation of the ongoing trade war between the world’s two largest economies, the United States has announced a steep hike in tariffs on Chinese imports, raising the rate to a striking 245%.
The move marks a sharp response from the Trump administration following Beijing’s retaliatory actions, which have further rattled global markets and deepened investor unease.
The White House released a fact sheet late Tuesday confirming the decision, underlining that the tariff hike was a direct consequence of China’s countermeasures in the intensifying trade standoff.
The statement explained that the latest move stems from a policy originally set in motion on what the administration referred to as “Liberation Day,” when President Donald Trump imposed an across-the-board 10% tariff on all countries that were levying what he considered unfairly high taxes on American goods.
The administration later paused the tariffs for more than 75 nations that entered negotiations for new trade agreements. China, however, remained an exception.
“The individualized higher tariffs are currently paused amid these discussions, except for China, which chose to retaliate. As a result, Chinese imports are now subject to tariffs of up to 245% when entering the United States,” the statement from the White House read.
This latest round of tariffs is part of Trump’s broader “America First” economic agenda, which has sought to reduce trade deficits and revive domestic manufacturing by pressuring foreign partners to renegotiate existing trade frameworks on terms more favorable to the United States.
The current escalation follows a prior exchange of tariff hikes between the two countries. Initially, the US imposed a 145% tariff on certain Chinese products, prompting Beijing to strike back with a 125% tariff on American exports, further escalating tensions and fueling sharp swings in global stock markets.
In addition to imposing retaliatory tariffs, China also announced restrictions on the export of critical industrial materials, including components essential to aerospace manufacturing and military contracting, further raising the stakes in an already strained bilateral relationship.
Responding to Washington’s latest move, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated Beijing’s firm opposition to the tariffs and placed the blame for the trade war squarely on the US.
When questioned about the newly announced 245% tariff rate, Lin declined to confirm the exact figures, suggesting reporters “ask the US side” for such specifics, as quoted by local media.
Meanwhile, at a press briefing on Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt underscored President Trump’s readiness to engage in trade talks with China — but emphasized that the initiative must come from Beijing.
“The ball is in China’s court,” Leavitt stated. “President Trump has been very clear: China needs to make a deal with us — we don’t have to make a deal with them.”
She went on to stress the strategic leverage the US holds in the dispute, pointing to the strength and desirability of the American consumer market. “China wants what we have: the American consumer. Or to put it another way — they need our money,” she added.
As the tariff standoff drags on, global investors and businesses are bracing for further market volatility, while both governments continue to weigh the economic and political costs of this protracted trade battle.