President Donald Trump has dramatically escalated the ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China by announcing a sweeping 100% tariff on all Chinese imports, effective from November 1, 2025, or potentially earlier depending on further actions by Beijing. This latest tariff is set to be imposed on top of existing duties, effectively doubling the current tariff rates. Alongside this, Trump declared new export controls targeting critical U.S. software exports to China, marking a significant step in the trade dispute between the two economic giants.

Trump made the announcement on his social media platform, accusing China of adopting an “extraordinarily aggressive” position in global trade. He criticized China for sending what he described as a hostile letter to multiple nations, signaling plans to implement broad export restrictions on virtually all products manufactured in China—some even beyond China’s own production capabilities. Trump framed this move as a long-planned strategy by Beijing aiming to dominate international trade, labeling it both unprecedented and morally unacceptable.

The U.S. President also threatened to cancel a scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping set to take place later this month at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea. Trump expressed doubts about the value of the meeting, citing China’s recent tightening of export controls on rare earth minerals—crucial components used extensively in technology, automotive, and defense industries. He accused China of trying to “hold the world captive” through these trade restrictions and called the situation “very strange” and hostile.

This latest escalation comes amid a backdrop of fragile trade relations that had appeared to stabilize earlier this year but have since unraveled. China has been ramping up its control over rare earth exports by including more elements under strict licensing, which impacts industries worldwide, including smartphone manufacturing and military hardware production. On the U.S. side, imposing such high tariffs aims to counter Beijing’s moves and protect American economic interests.

The announcement caused immediate reverberations in financial markets, with stock indexes experiencing sharp declines amid fears of a renewed trade war. Analysts warn that these tariffs could disrupt global supply chains and raise prices for consumers and businesses alike. However, political commentators note that Trump’s aggressive stance also reflects a tougher approach to China’s economic policies seen as unfair by many U.S. officials.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from BBC.