Trump Announces 155% Tariffs on Chinese Imports: Escalating US-China Trade Tensions

Trump expressed his intention to maintain friendly relations with China despite tariff plans (File)

Washington:

US President Donald Trump confirmed on Tuesday that the United States will proceed with implementing a 155 percent tariff on Chinese imports beginning November 1, even while expressing personal desire to maintain positive relations with Beijing.

When asked by ANI about potential tariffs on China, considering its position as Russia's largest oil importer, President Trump replied, "Right now, as of November 1st, China will have about 155 percent tariffs imposed on it. I don't think it's sustainable for them."

Trump elaborated that while he personally prefers amicable relations with China, years of unbalanced economic interactions have necessitated firm action from the United States.

"I want to be nice to China. But China has been very rough with us over the years because we had presidents that weren't smart from a business standpoint... They allowed China and every other country to take advantage of us," the President stated.

Trump highlighted that his previous trade agreements with the European Union, Japan, and South Korea were structured around tariffs, which he regards as an essential instrument for "national security."

"I made a deal with the European Union. I made a deal with Japan and South Korea. A lot of these deals are great deals. It's about national security. I was able to do it because of tariffs. We're getting hundreds of billions, even trillions, of dollars paid into the United States... We'll start paying off debt," he explained.

This announcement reflects Washington's intensifying "secondary tariff" strategy targeting countries perceived to be indirectly supporting Russia's war efforts in Ukraine through energy commerce.

While earlier measures focused on India with a 50 percent tariff on Russian oil imports, this latest move signals a broader escalation toward China, which currently stands as the world's largest importer of Russian crude oil.

Previously, Trump had announced on Truth Social an additional 100 percent tariff on Chinese goods "over and above any tariff that they are currently paying," effective November 1.

The President indicated this decision followed what he described as China taking "an extraordinarily aggressive position on trade" by sending "an extremely hostile letter to the world."

He further stated that export controls would be implemented on all critical software beginning the same date.

"Based on the fact that China has taken this unprecedented position, and speaking only for the USA, and not other Nations who were similarly threatened, starting November 1, 2025 (or sooner, depending on any further actions or changes taken by China), the United States of America will impose a Tariff of 100% on China, over and above any Tariff that they are currently paying. Also on November 1, we will impose Export Controls on any and all critical software," his post stated.

"It has just been learnt that China has taken an extraordinarily aggressive position on trade in sending an extremely hostile letter to the world, stating that they were going to, effective November 1, 2025, impose large-scale Export Controls on virtually every product they make, and some not even made by them. This affects ALL Countries, without exception, and was obviously a plan devised by them years ago. It is absolutely unheard of in International Trade, and a moral disgrace in dealing with other Nations," the post concluded.