U.S slaps 245% tariff on Chinese imports amid rising trade tensions

The United States has imposed a staggering 245 percent tariff on Chinese imports, escalating the ongoing trade war between both countries. According to the White House, the move is a response to China’s retaliatory actions.

The announcement comes as President Donald Trump authorized a sweeping investigation into potential national security risks associated with America’s dependence on imported, processed critical minerals.

These include cobalt, lithium, nickel, and rare-earth metals — essential components in the production of smartphones, electric vehicle batteries, and military hardware.

In a strong statement, Trump insisted that China must take the first step in resolving the dispute. “The ball is in China’s court. China needs to make a deal with us. We don’t have to make a deal with them,” he declared, just a day after accusing Beijing of backing out of a major Boeing aircraft deal.

It was reported that, in response to the United States’ earlier decision to impose a 145 percent tariff on Chinese goods, China has ordered its airlines not to take any further deliveries of Boeing jets.

This is according to Bloomberg News on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Beijing has also instructed Chinese carriers to halt purchases of aircraft-related equipment and parts from U.S. companies, the Bloomberg report said.

The Chinese government is reportedly considering ways to assist airlines leasing Boeing jets who are facing increased costs, sources told Bloomberg News.

It would be recalled that U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new levy of 125 percent on goods from China.

The White House later clarified that the rate is in addition to an existing 20 percent tariff, bringing the total to 145 percent.

The original 20 percent tariff had been imposed on imports of Chinese goods in response to what Trump described as Beijing’s role in the production and supply of fentanyl into the U.S.

Earlier, in a statement published on its customs department website and seen by SaharaReporters, Chinese officials accused the United States of violating international trade norms.

“On April 10, 2025, the US government announced that the ‘reciprocal tariff’ on Chinese goods exported to the US would be further increased to 125%. The US’s imposition of abnormally high tariffs on China seriously violates international economic and trade rules, basic economic laws and common sense, and is completely a unilateral bullying and coercion.”

“In accordance with the Tariff Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Customs Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Foreign Trade Law of the People’s Republic of China and other laws and regulations and the basic principles of international law, and with the approval of the State Council, starting from April 12, 2025, the tariff increase measures on imported goods originating from the United States will be adjusted.”

The Chinese resolution read as follows:

“Announcement of the State Council Tariff Commission on Adjusting the Tariff Measures on Imports Originating in the United States” (Tax Commission Announcement No. 5 of 2025): from 84% to 125%. Given that at the current tariff level, there is no market acceptance for US goods exported to China. If the US continues to impose tariffs on Chinese goods exported to the US, China will ignore it.”

“Other matters shall be implemented in accordance with the ‘Announcement of the Tariff Commission of the State Council on the Imposition of Additional Tariffs on Imported Goods Originating in the United States’ (Tax Commission Announcement No. 4 of 2025),” the statement read.