No blanket 245% US tariff on Chinese imports; here’s what White House really meant

China now faces tariffs up to 245% on imports to the United States due to its retaliatory actions, the White House said Tuesday, as the trade war intensified between the world’s two largest economies.

In a fact sheet titled “Strengthening American Industry,” the White House said, “China now faces up to a 245% tariff on imports to the United States as a result of its retaliatory actions.”

The statement sparked confusion, with some media reports suggesting a blanket 245% tariff on all Chinese goods.

However, the White House figure referred to the cumulative effect of multiple tariffs on specific products, such as syringes, rather than a new across-the-board rate.

The tariffs build on measures announced last week by President Donald Trump, including a 125% tariff on Chinese goods, on top of an existing 20% rate, bringing the total to 145% for some products.

Additional tariffs include base rates averaging 3.4%, pre-2025 protectionist tariffs ranging from 7.5% to 100%, sector-specific duties on steel, aluminum, and autos at 25%, and “fentanyl” and “reciprocal” duties. The so-called fentanyl tariff is intended to punish China over the flow of fentanyl into the United States.

For certain products like syringes and needles, the combination of a 100% pre-2025 rate, a 20% fentanyl levy, and a 125% reciprocal tariff results in the 245% figure, according to a New York Times report. Other products that face high rates include lithium-ion batteries at 173%, squids at 170%, wool sweaters at 169%, and electric cars at 148%.

The effective tariff rate varies based on factors like import source, materials, and exemptions, complicating the application of these duties, according to The New York Times.

China is the only country to have retaliated with tit-for-tat import duties, prompting the US to maintain elevated tariffs while pausing similar measures against other nations amid trade deal discussions.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Trump administration is on the verge of finalising several major trade agreements, with more than 15 proposals under active consideration.

“There have been many talks with countries — we’ve had more than 15 deals, pieces of paper put on the table, proposals that are actively being considered,” Leavitt told reporters at the White House.

“More than 75 countries have reached out. So there's a lot of work to do. We very much understand that, but we do believe that we can announce some deals very soon.”

Leavitt said President Donald Trump is personally involved in the process and has made it clear to his trade team that he wants to sign off on each agreement.