...
By Steve Mollman
News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
President Donald Trump on Sunday said China would face sweeping trade penalties if it was found supplying weapons to Iran, issuing one of his clearest public warnings yet to Beijing amid the Iran war.
Trump made the comments during an interview with Fox Business’ Sunday Morning Futures host Maria Bartiromo, responding to a question about a prior threat that countries aiding Iran militarily could face a 50 percent tariff on goods entering the United States.
Bartiromo asked whether China was included.
Read More on News
“You said the other day that any country that supports Iran and sends military equipment to Iran will face a 50 percent tariff,” she said. “Did you mean China?”
“Yes,” Trump replied. “And other people. But yes, China too.”
The exchange appeared to mark the first time Trump had publicly named China when discussing the tariff threat, ending days of uncertainty over which countries could be targeted. It comes after U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks in Pakistan ended with no deal this weekend.
Why It Matters
By explicitly naming China, Trump raised the economic stakes of the Iran conflict, tying arms transfers directly to sweeping trade penalties. The warning positions tariffs as a deterrent tool with potentially significant consequences for U.S.-China relations, global supply chains, and diplomatic efforts to prevent the war from widening.
Tariff Threat Tied to Arms Transfers
Trump said the warning would only apply if China—or another country—were proven to be supplying weapons to Iran.
“If we find that China—because I hear news reports,” Trump said, dismissing media accounts as unreliable before citing reports about shoulder‑fired anti‑aircraft missiles. “I doubt they would do that because I have a relationship and I think they wouldn’t.”
He suggested China may have provided limited support earlier in the conflict but said he did not believe it would continue.
“Maybe they did a little bit at the beginning,” Trump said. “But I don’t think they would anymore.”
Still, he stressed the response would be severe if evidence emerged.
“If we catch them doing that, they get a 50 percent tariff,” Trump said. “That’s staggering.”
...
A Sharper Line on China
The remarks signaled a shift in Trump’s rhetoric toward Beijing, which has recently centered on trade imbalances and technology rather than military involvement in the Middle East.
Last week, Trump warned that “any country” supporting Iran would face consequences, without naming China. On Saturday, he warned China would have "big problems" if it sent weapons to Iran, but he did not mention tariffs.
Trump has frequently favored tariffs as leverage in foreign policy, arguing they are faster and more forceful than sanctions.
China, Iran, and the War
China has longstanding economic and diplomatic ties with Iran, including energy purchases and infrastructure cooperation, despite U.S. efforts to isolate Tehran.
Beijing has denied providing weapons and has called for de‑escalation, though U.S. and European officials have accused China of indirectly enabling Iran through dual‑use technology and financial channels.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington told CNN that Beijing “has never provided weapons to any party to the conflict.”
What Happens Next
Trump’s remarks come ahead of a mid‑May trip to China, a visit expected to center on trade and broader geopolitical issues. Whether the tariff threat escalates tensions beforehand may depend on what U.S. officials determine about arms flows to Iran in the coming weeks.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines