A complete chronology of the 2025 U.S.-China trade tensions
- Rick Dunham
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 11 hours ago
By RICK DUNHAM
Co-director, Global Business Journalism program
The following timeline is part of a series of stories on the Global Business Journalism website designed to help business journalists cover international trade issues. For our economic tipsheet homepage, click here.
📊 2025 U.S.-China Tariff Escalation Timeline
January 20, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump is re-inaugurated for a second term.
February 1, 2025
Trump announces a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports, effective February 4, citing an alleged national emergency tied to fentanyl trafficking.
February 4, 2025
China retaliates with:
15% tariffs on U.S. coal and liquefied natural gas. China retaliates with tariffs of 15% on coal and LNG, and 10% on crude oil, agricultural machinery, and high-end cars
10% tariffs on U.S. crude oil, agricultural machinery, and high-end cars.
Investigations of American companies and export controls.
March 3, 2025
The U.S. increases tariffs on Chinese goods by an additional 10%, totaling 20%, at the same time he ups rates on Canada and Mexico.
March 4, 2025
China imposes:
15% tariffs on U.S. chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton.
10% tariffs on U.S. sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, aquatic products, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.
April 2, 2025
In a "Liberation Day" speech, Trump announces an additional 34% tariff on Chinese goods, citing China's 67% trade barriers, increasing the rate on China to 54%.
April 4, 2025
China responds with a 34% tariff on all U.S. goods, effective April 10, plus rare earth export restrictions.
April 9, 2025
U.S. increases tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%.
April 12, 2025
China escalates its tariffs on U.S. goods to 125%.
May 10, 2025
Chinese and American officials meet in Geneva, Switzerland, in an attempt to defuse trade tensions.
May 12, 2025
Negotiators announce a 90-day ceasefire that includes a 10% Chinese tariff on U.S. goods and a 30% U.S. tariff on Chinese goods. Negotiations are to continue on a long-term agreement.
June 9, 2005
New trade discussions begin in London, focusing on rare-earth export licensing.
Late July 2025
Further negotiations in Stockholm, Sweden, result in an agreement to extend the “cease fire” in the trade war.
August 11, 2025
Trump signs an executive order delaying a sweeping tariff increase for 90 days. Both U.S. and Chinese officials agree to extend the trade truce. The United States grants export licenses to chipmakers Nvidia and AMD. China offers relief to some U.S. firms.
U.S.-China trade tensions at a glance
Timeframe | U.S. Tariffs | Chinese Response | Outcome |
Feb.–March | 10% → 20% | Selective retaliatory tariffs | Escalating trade conflict |
Early April | Up to 145% (cumulative) | Matches sharp increases to 84–125% | Peak hostilities |
Mid-May | Truce: U.S. lowers to 30% | Lowers tariffs to 10% | Temporary calm |
Summer–Aug. | Truce extended after negotiations | Export relief, rare-earth issue remains | Pause — but strategic issues remain unresolved |
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