February 1, 2025
President Donald Trump signs Executive Order 14195, imposing a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports, effective February 4.
February 10, 2025
China responds with a 15% tariff on U.S. coal and LNG and a 10% tariff on U.S. oil and machinery and places multiple U.S. firms on its Unreliable Entity List.
March 4, 2025
U.S. raises tariffs on Chinese goods by another 10%, bringing the total to 20%.
China responds with a 15% tariff on U.S. chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton, and a 10% tariff on U.S. soybeans, pork, and dairy.
April 2, 2025
Trump announces a 34% “reciprocal tariff” on Chinese goods, added on top of existing duties. This brings the total U.S. tariff burden on Chinese imports to 54%.
April 4, 2025
China responds to the 54% U.S. rate by announcing a 34% tariff on all U.S. imports, effective April 10. It also imposes export controls on rare earths and targets U.S. firms with investigations.
April 8, 2025
Trump announces an additional 50% tariff on Chinese goods, bringing the cumulative rate to 104%, after Beijing refused to withdraw its retaliatory measures.
President Trump calls the move “legendary—in a positive way.”
April 9, 2025
China responds by raising tariffs on U.S. goods from 34% to 84%, effective April 10.
A spokesperson from China’s Foreign Ministry says the country will “fight to the end” if provoked and accuses the U.S. of “bullying practices.”
