Trump’s tying this move to his long-standing gripes about China’s role in the fentanyl crisis, accusing Beijing of funneling the deadly opioid through Mexico and Canada into the States. It’s a page from his campaign playbook—back in November 2024, he’d promised to hammer China, Canada, and Mexico with tariffs to choke off drugs and illegal immigration. The China tariff kicks in on March 4, alongside delayed 25% duties on Canada and Mexico, which got a 30-day reprieve after last-minute talks.
The White House says this is all about leverage—hitting China where it hurts to force action on fentanyl and trade imbalances. But Beijing’s not taking it lying down. They’ve already fired back with their own tariffs—15% on U.S. coal and liquefied natural gas, 10% on crude oil and farm gear—set to start Monday. Plus, they’ve opened an antitrust probe into Google and tightened export controls on rare minerals, flexing their own muscle.
