Trade Trump announces additional tariffs against China
In response to stricter Chinese controls in connection with the export of rare earths, US President Donald Trump has announced additional tariffs against China amounting to 100 percent. According to Trump, they are to come into force from November 1 at the latest.
10.10.2025, 23:15
10.10.2025, 23:36
SDA
The tariffs would apply over and above existing import restrictions, Trump explained on Friday in his online service Truth Social. He also announced restrictions on the export of "critical software" to China.
Trump called China's behavior "extraordinarily aggressive" and "unprecedented". He had previously accused China of "hostile" trade practices and questioned a meeting with Chinese head of state Xi Jinping in two weeks' time at the Asia-Pacific Economic Community (Apec) summit in South Korea. "There no longer seems to be any reason" to do so, Trump explained.
In view of the renewed tensions between the world's two largest economies, share prices on the New York Stock Exchange slipped into negative territory.
China imposes stricter conditions
Rare earths are a key issue in the trade conflict between Beijing and Washington. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced on Thursday that the export of rare earth-related technologies would be subject to stricter controls with immediate effect. From now on, companies will require a permit from the authorities if they export machinery and technologies for mining and processing the materials from China. Additional restrictions will apply to foreign companies.
The new regulation came into force immediately and, according to the Ministry of Commerce in Beijing, also affects technologies for the "assembly, adjustment, maintenance, repair and upgrading" of production lines. China cites a threat to national security as the reason, as rare earths could also be used for military goods.
Rare earths are used in a range of technologies from wind turbines to batteries for electric cars. China is a major producer of the materials and by far the market leader in processing. The country has registered a number of patents that prevent other countries from setting up their own industry. Many raw materials mined in other countries are therefore shipped to China for processing.
