President Donald Trump’s administration has announced a big escalation in the U.S.-China trade war, imposing tariffs of up to 245% on Chinese imports. Why Did the U.S. Impose These Tariffs? The Trump administration framed the new tariffs as a direct response to recent Chinese actions, particularly Beijing’s export restrictions on key high-tech materials. China had recently suspended the export of several critical rare earth metals and magnets, such as gallium, germanium, and antimony materials essential for U.S. military, aerospace, and semiconductor industries. The White House accused China of using these export controls as economic leverage, threatening the stability of global supply chains and U.S. national security, as per reports. How Did China Respond? Recently, China hit back by raising tariffs on U.S. goods to 125%, targeting American exports and halting purchases of Boeing jets and aircraft parts. Chinese officials have described the U.S. tariffs as “unilateral bullying and coercion” and