In a fresh escalation of the U.S.-China trade standoff, the U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Beijing of imposing massive 155% tariffs on all Chinese imports if a “fair and balanced” trade deal is not finalized by November 1. The announcement came ahead of Trump’s expected meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea next week, setting a tense stage for negotiations between the world’s two largest economies.
Trump, who has long criticized China for “unfair trade practices,” claimed the new tariffs would protect American industries and jobs while forcing Beijing to address long-standing issues related to technology theft and market access. “If China wants a deal, it will be a fantastic one for America,” he remarked, adding that the U.S. “won’t tolerate manipulation or economic blackmail.”
The warning follows Beijing’s recent decision to tighten export controls on rare-earth minerals, a move Washington views as an attempt to weaponize global supply chains. Economists, however, fear the proposed tariffs could ignite a new round of trade wars, disrupt global markets, and raise prices for U.S. consumers.
Chinese officials have yet to issue a formal response but hinted that any “coercive approach” from Washington would invite reciprocal countermeasures signaling another storm on the horizon for global trade stability.
