In a shocking twist to the already tense US-China trade battle, former US President Donald Trump has announced tariffs of up to 245% on Chinese imports. According to a White House fact sheet, the move comes after China retaliated against previous US levies, while over 75 other nations are reportedly in talks with Washington for individual trade deals.
So, why the sudden hike? Trump’s team claims China is disrupting fair trade by blocking exports of critical materials—and they’re hitting back hard.
Who’s Really in Control Here?
China isn’t taking it quietly. On Thursday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry made it clear: “If the US continues playing the tariff numbers game, we won’t even look at it.” Their tone? Defiant.
President Xi Jinping is now steering China through a high-stakes diplomatic and economic storm. Beijing has already slapped 125% retaliatory tariffs on US imports and lodged a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO).
To show they mean business, China appointed Li Chenggang as the new trade envoy—just as the tariff war explodes.
How Ugly Can This Get? Rare Earths Now in Crosshairs
The White House didn’t stop at tariffs—it accused China of a strategic blockade. According to the fact sheet, Beijing has restricted the export of rare earth metals like gallium, germanium, and antimony—critical for military, semiconductors, and aerospace.
This isn’t just an economic skirmish. It’s now about tech supremacy and national security.
Trump’s message is clear: Play fair, or pay the price. But Xi’s counter: Don’t threaten China with numbers.
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What Next?
Will cooler heads prevail, or is this just the beginning of a full-blown trade war revival?
The stakes are sky-high. Global markets are on edge. And the US-China standoff just entered a dangerous new chapter.
