On April 4, 2025, China announced a 34% tariff on all U.S. imports, effective April 10, in retaliation for President Trump’s newly imposed 34% “reciprocal” tariff on Chinese exports, which followed a 20% U.S. levy instituted earlier in the year. In addition to the tariffs, China is implementing export controls on key rare earth materials critical to sectors such as aerospace, defense, and electronics, including samarium and gadolinium. China also suspended imports from two U.S. poultry suppliers over banned substances and added 27 U.S. companies to trade sanction lists. These actions include bans on dual-use goods and placing certain firms like Skydio Inc. and BRINC Drones on its “unreliable entities” list, citing arms sales to Taiwan. The Chinese government condemned the U.S. measures as violations of World Trade Organization rules, describing them as unilateral and damaging to global economic stability. President Trump defended the tariffs as measures to protect U.S. industry and promote economic independence, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged calm to avoid further escalation.