The White House confirmed on Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest wave of tariff increases on Chinese goods – has pushed the total duty rate to a staggering 145%, intensifying trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
The move follows the implementation of a new 125% tariff on select Chinese imports, which builds on an earlier 20% levy introduced this year. The earlier tariff had been tied to U.S. allegations of China’s role in fueling the fentanyl crisis.
Although sweeping in scope, the new tariffs come with notable exclusions. Key imports such as steel, aluminum, and automobiles are not included in the 125% figure, as they are already subject to separate 25% tariffs under different trade measures.
Other exempted goods include pharmaceuticals, copper, semiconductors, lumber, and energy products, many of which may be targeted in future rounds of duties.
The White House also reportedly revealed that a 90-day suspension of new tariffs has been granted to several other countries, although the names of these nations were not immediately disclosed. The pause is intended to provide diplomatic space for negotiations and economic assessments.
This latest action adds complexity to the already turbulent U.S.-China trade relationship, signaling that the Trump administration remains committed to using aggressive trade measures to confront what it calls “unfair practices” by Beijing.
With global markets watching closely, analysts say this escalation could have significant ripple effects across international supply chains, especially in manufacturing and consumer electronics.
The administration has not ruled out further tariff hikes or expanded product coverage in the coming months.
