Trump considers imposing new tariffs on China, CleanSpark embroiled in $185 million mining controversy

As U.S. President Trump considers imposing a new round of tariffs on Chinese imports, the American Bitcoin mining startup CleanSpark is embroiled in a $185 million tariff dispute with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This dispute involves mining equipment made in China and highlights the potential impact of the new tariff policy on the crypto mining industry.

CleanSpark and CBP's tariff dispute

CleanSpark disclosed in its Q2 2025 financial report that starting from May 27, it received CBP invoices requesting the payment of Chinese origin import duties on certain Bitcoin mining machines imported during the period from April to June 2024.

CBP alleges that these mining machines are from China and should be subject to punitive tariffs. If CBP's claims are upheld, CleanSpark's total liabilities will exceed $185 million (excluding interest).

The company denies the allegations, stating that the shipping documents and the supplier's statement both prove that the mining machines were shipped from outside of China, and plans to formally contest.

IREN is also involved in similar controversies

CleanSpark is not the only affected company. The listed mining company IREN also disclosed earlier this year that some of the mining machines imported between April 2024 and February 2025 were identified by CBP as being of Chinese origin, with an amount involved reaching up to 100 million dollars.

IREN also denies the allegations and disputes the formal action notice from CBP.

Trump's new tariff policy impacts the mining industry

The Trump administration has recently imposed tariffs on China and countries closely associated with trade with China, resulting in an increase of at least 21% in the import costs of core mining equipment such as Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs).

Even if the equipment does not come directly from China, if imported through countries like Laos and Myanmar, the tariffs can be as high as 40%. Analysts point out that this will make it more difficult for American miners to transport equipment from overseas and may increase operating costs across the industry.

Political Background and Future Direction

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance stated on August 10 that Trump is "considering" imposing new tariffs on China in response to China's purchase of Russian oil. Previously, Trump had imposed a 25% punitive tariff on goods imported from India.

Trump emphasized that if the situation develops as needed, additional tariffs on China "may occur," and hinted at the possibility of more secondary sanctions in the future. The Chinese embassy in the U.S. responded by stating that China-Russia trade falls within the framework of normal cooperation under international law.

Conclusion

The $185 million tariff dispute involving CleanSpark highlights the direct impact of Trump’s new tariff policy on the U.S. crypto mining industry. As policy uncertainty increases, mining companies may face higher equipment costs and legal risks. In the coming months, the direction of the tariff policy and the final decision of CBP will be key factors influencing the landscape of the U.S. mining industry.