Trump fires back at China’s rare earth mineral restrictions by threatening 100% tariffs

President Donald Trump announced on October 11, 2025, that he plans to impose a 100% tariff on all imports from China, in addition to existing tariffs, as a response to China’s recent restrictions on rare earth mineral exports. China, the world’s largest producer of these minerals critical to technology sectors such as semiconductors and solar panels, introduced licensing requirements for foreign companies exporting products containing even small amounts of these minerals. Trump condemned China’s move as unprecedented and morally wrong in international trade. The new tariffs are scheduled to take effect on November 1, though Trump indicated they could be reconsidered and that a planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping might still proceed. The announcement triggered a sharp market reaction, with major U.S. stock indices falling significantly—Dow Jones down 1.9%, S&P 500 down 2.71%, and Nasdaq down 3.56%. Tech companies like Nvidia and Tesla experienced notable declines of around 5%, and the crypto markets also