US Escalates Trade Measures with 245% Tariff on Chinese Imports Amidst New National Security Push on Critical Minerals

1 minute

In a 15 April 2025 Fact Sheet, the United States government announced that the tariffs imposed on Chinese imports have risen to 245%. The Fact Sheet explicitly states that "China now faces up to a 245% tariff on imports to the United States as a result of its retaliatory actions," though it does not elaborate on how this figure was calculated or which specific goods it applies to.

Beijing, China

This new development comes alongside a new Executive Order (EO) President Donald J. Trump also signed on 15 April 2025, launching an investigation aimed at addressing national security risks tied to America's reliance on imported processed critical minerals and their derivative products.

The EO directs the Secretary of Commerce to launch a Section 232 investigation under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, to assess how imports of processed critical minerals affect US economic security, defense capabilities and industrial resilience.

The IBFD will monitor these developments closely and report on any further policy changes or implications arising from this investigation and the newly imposed tariffs.

Visit our Tax Research Platform for prior coverage on US tariffs.

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