By 
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a warning that any country conducting business with Iran will face a new 25 percent tariff, a move that could have far-reaching implications for global trade.
The announcement, made on Monday, suggests that goods from China—one of the largest trading partners for both Iran and the United States—could become substantially more expensive to import into the U.S.
“Effective immediately, any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25 percent on any and all business being done with the United States of America,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday. “This Order is final and conclusive,” he added.
According to CNN, the White House declined to provide further details on the tariff or how the administration plans to implement the measure, referring inquiries back to the president’s post.
President Trump did not clarify what specifically constitutes “doing business” with Iran, raising several questions about how the policy will be enforced, what sectors will be affected, and which countries stand to be targeted. It also remains unclear whether the tariff applies strictly to goods or if services will also be subject to higher duties.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions, as President Trump has recently floated the possibility of U.S. military intervention to “rescue” anti-government protesters in Iran, hundreds of whom have reportedly been killed. A nationwide communications shutdown imposed by Iranian authorities on Thursday has further isolated the country from the outside world.
The new tariff could sharply increase import costs, potentially raising the minimum tariff rate on goods from China to 45 percent—up from the current 20 percent.
In response, China’s Embassy in Washington said Monday that Beijing “firmly opposes all illicit unilateral sanctions” and vowed to take “all necessary measure to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”
“Tariff wars and trade wars have no winners, and coercion and pressure cannot solve problems,”
spokesperson Liu Pengyu said on X.
Chinese customs data shows that in the first 11 months of 2025, China exported $6.2 billion worth of goods to Iran and imported $2.85 billion, excluding oil purchases, which are not publicly disclosed. Analysts estimate that China has accounted for more than 90 percent of Iran’s oil trade in recent years, much of it imported through intermediaries.
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A U.S.–China trade war last year rattled global markets, after President Trump raised tariffs on Chinese goods to a peak of 145 percent. The current rate was established after months of tense negotiations.
Beyond China, India, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey are among Iran’s major trading partners. Earlier this year, President Trump doubled duties on Indian goods to a minimum of 50 percent, seeking to penalize New Delhi for purchasing Russian oil.
He has threatened similar tariffs against other countries that continue buying Russian crude, including China—Russia’s largest oil customer.
Throughout his second term, President Trump has relied on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to raise import duties.
His expanded use of the law is currently being challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court, with a ruling expected this month.
If the Court determines that the president exceeded his legal authority, the administration could lose its ability to adjust tariff levels unilaterally—and the U.S.
government may be required to refund at least $130 billion in collected tariffs.
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