Trump 'immediately' imposes 25% tariffs on countries that do business with Iran, including China

"President Donald Trump said on Monday that countries that do business with Iran will face a new 25% tariff. The announcement appears to mean goods from China, a major trading partner of both Iran and the United States, would become significantly more expensive to import. "Effective immediately, any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday. "This Order is final and conclusive," he added."

"The White House declined to share additional information on the tariff and how the Trump administration plans to implement it, referring CNN to the president's post. Trump did not define what qualifies as "doing business" with Iran. The post raised a number of questions, including how these additional tariffs could work, which countries would be targeted and whether services and not just goods would face higher duties."

"The new tariff could mean a minimum 45% tariff rate on goods from China versus the current rate of 20%. China's foreign ministry decried the move on Tuesday. "China's position on tariffs is very clear: there are no winners in a tariff war, and China will firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests," spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters. In the first 11 months of 2025, China exported $6.2 billion worth of goods to Iran and imported $2.85 billion, according to Chinese customs data."

President Donald Trump imposed an immediate 25% tariff on any country doing business with Iran, without defining "doing business" or specifying implementation. The White House provided no additional guidance and directed inquiries to the president's post. The undefined scope raises questions about which countries would be targeted, whether services as well as goods would be affected, and how enforcement would operate. The tariff could raise Chinese import duties from 20% to at least 45%. China condemned the move and warned against tariff wars. China exported $6.2 billion to Iran and imported $2.85 billion in the first 11 months of 2025; oil trade is not publicly disclosed.

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