Washington, D.C. – Former President Donald Trump has launched a bold new offensive in the U.S.-China trade war by announcing a massive 245% tariff on a wide range of Chinese imports, calling it a “necessary step to restore economic justice.”
“China has taken advantage of America for decades. Not anymore,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “If they want to play tough, we’ll play tougher.”
The tariff hike marks the highest ever placed on Chinese goods by a U.S. administration and follows Beijing’s retaliatory measures earlier this month. In response, Chinese officials blasted Washington, accusing the U.S. of using trade as a political weapon.
But Trump isn’t backing down.
“Thanks to these tariffs, American jobs are coming back, prices are dropping, and inflation is cooling. Promises made, promises kept!” he declared.
China Fires Back: “America Needs to Stop Crying”
Chinese state-run media didn’t hold back, mocking the U.S. for what they called “decades of overspending and underproducing.”
“The U.S. isn’t being ripped off — it’s been living beyond its means,” one editorial said. “It outsourced manufacturing and printed money to enjoy a lifestyle its economy couldn’t support.”
Despite the heated rhetoric, Trump made strategic exceptions: smartphones, laptops, and consumer electronics will be spared from the full 245% tariff to avoid impacting everyday Americans.
However, he introduced a new semiconductor tariff, targeting China’s dominance in critical tech manufacturing.