China Faces 145% US Base Tariff, But 245% on Some Goods
The Trump administration confirmed Wednesday morning that the base tariff on products imported into the U.S. from China remains at 145%, after a previously released fact sheet caused confusion in Asian hours.
The White House, in a fact sheet on critical minerals released Tuesday afternoon Washington time (early Wednesday in Asia) included language that said China “now faces tariffs of up to 245% on imports into the United States as a result of its retaliatory actions.” That language was picked up by some Asian media outlets and Asia-based market analysts who, in the overnight Washington hours, framed it as an escalation in the ongoing trade war.
But that’s not what the White House said it was communicating. A White House official confirmed that the base tariff on most products from China remains at 145% — 20% for levies citing fentanyl, plus 125% for “reciprocal” levies and President Donald Trump’s retaliatory tariffs after China itself retaliated against the president’s actions.
The 245% figure is just a calculation. For example, some products, like electric vehicles, were already facing 100% tariffs before Trump took office. Add that to the president’s base 145% tariffs on China, and you get 245%.
Source: Bloomberg
