President Trump announced additional 100% tariffs on Chinese imports and new export controls on US software in response to China’s tightened restrictions on rare earth exports.
US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social, on 11 October 2025, that his administration plans to implement 100% tariffs on Chinese imports and introduce export controls on key US-made software.
“Based on the fact that China has taken this unprecedented position, and speaking only for the U.S.A., and not other Nations who were similarly threatened, starting November 1st, 2025 (or sooner, depending on any further actions or changes taken by China), the United States of America will impose a Tariff of 100% on China, over and above any Tariff that they are currently paying. Also on November 1st, we will impose Export Controls on any and all critical software,” Trump posted on Truth Social on 11 October.
Trump’s latest decision to impose additional tariffs on Chinese imports follows after Beijing imposed tighter restrictions on rare earth exports, a critical resource for industries like technology, defence, and electric vehicles.
On 25 August, Trump said that China must supply the US with rare-earth magnets or face a potential 200% tariff, amid ongoing trade tensions.
Earlier in the day (10 October), Trump hinted at a “massive” tariff hike and dismissed the need for an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, suggesting additional countermeasures were being considered.
“Some very strange things are happening in China! They are becoming very hostile, and sending letters to Countries throughout the World, that they want to impose Export Controls on each and every element of production having to do with Rare Earths, and virtually anything else they can think of, even if it’s not manufactured in China. I have not spoken to President Xi because there was no reason to do so. This was a real surprise, not only to me, but to all the Leaders of the Free World. 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 said on Truth Social.
China’s dominance in rare earth production—accounting for over 90% of global supply—heightens the stakes.
Earlier, Trump signed an executive order on 11 August 2025, extending the tariff truce between the US and China for an additional 90 days, which is set to expire in mid-November. The decision suspends a planned tariff increase, keeping duties at 30% on Chinese imports and 10% on US goods.
