Trump Warns of 100% Tariffs on Chinese Imports, Plans Tech Export Curbs from November 1

Washington, Oct 11: U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a 100% tariff on all Chinese imports starting November 1, or sooner, intensifying trade tensions between Washington and Beijing. The move, revealed on Trump’s social media platform, comes in response to China’s export controls on rare earth elements critical materials used in high-tech and defense industries.

Trump declared that the tariffs would apply “over and above any tariff that China is currently paying,” signaling a potential return to the fierce trade wars that previously rattled global markets. The announcement, made after U.S. markets closed Friday, raised fears of renewed economic disruption, inflation pressures, and global supply chain instability.

The President also threatened to implement export restrictions on critical U.S. software to counter China’s trade policies, further heightening the stakes.

Trump’s decision casts doubt on a planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his upcoming Asia trip, which includes visits to Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea. “I was to meet President Xi in two weeks at APEC in South Korea, but now there seems to be no reason to do so,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

While Trump’s statements often serve as negotiating tactics, analysts warn that a 100% tariff could severely disrupt trade and potentially reignite global recession fears. The administration’s previous tariff hikes in 2019 and early 2024 led to volatile markets and supply shortages.

Economists caution that the new tariffs could fuel inflation in the U.S., especially amid a fragile job market and growing fiscal strain from recent government shutdowns.

If enforced, Trump’s 100% import tariff on Chinese goods could mark the most aggressive trade policy shift of his current administration, with far-reaching implications for global trade and diplomatic relations.