U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited trade uncertainty with a new threat that the U.S. was considering a 100 percent tariff on Chinese goods as of 1 November.
Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social that China took an “extraordinarily aggressive position on Trade” and that the U.S. would respond with 100 percent tariffs on China, over and above any current tariff, as of 1 November. Trump said the move was in response to a letter sent by China saying that it would impose export controls on its products.
China’s new trade policies came in two separate announcements, the New York Times reported. The first was a curb on the exports of rare earth metals, set to take effect on 1 December, while the second was that starting 8 November, China would restrict exports of the equipment needed to build batteries for electric vehicles.
“It is impossible to believe that China would have taken such an action, but they have, and the rest is History,” Trump wrote.
Soon after Trump’s tariff announcement, markets fell sharply, the New York Times reported, and soon after, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in an interview with Fox Business on Monday, said the two sides had “de-escalated” the trade talks and possibility of steep tariffs.
However, the Associated Press reported China had not backed down and said Trump’s threat to impose tariffs was harming trade negotiations.
“China urges the U.S. to promptly correct its erroneous practices,” Chinese Ministry off Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Lin Jian said. “If the U.S. insists on going its own way, China will certainly take resolute measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”
The latest tariff threats come as Chinese exports of seafood have dropped to the U.S.
China’s seafood export value to the U.S. in July 2024 was USD 146 million (EUR 125 million), according to statistics from NOAA, but that total dropped to USD 120 million (EUR 103 million) in July 2025. Exports in June were even more drastic in comparison year over year, as China sent USD 128 million (EUR 110 million) worth of seafood to the U.S. in June 2024 but just USD 55 million (EUR 47 million) in June 2025.
The Associated Press reported China’s total exports across all goods fell 27 percent in September 2025 compared to the same month in 2024, despite China’s worldwide exports being 8.3 percent higher than they were the previous year.
Norway’s seafood exports have also shown signs that current tariffs between the U.S. and China are impacting trade. Norway’s exports of frozen cod to the country dropped 19 percent by volume in September, which NSC Seafood Analyst Eivind Hestvik Brækkan attributed to the country exporting less product to the U.S.
Chinese goods currently face a 30 percent tariff, with some goods still facing additional tariffs from the first trade war during Trump’s first term. However, that 30 percent rate was intended to facilitate trade talks and was put in place for 90 days starting in August. Currently, those tariffs are scheduled to escalate as of 10 November if the suspension is not extended.
