A timeline of US-China tit-for-tat tariffs since Trump’s first term
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China is retaliating in a determined and at times highly detailed manner to U.S. President Donald Trump’s new tariffs, led by a retaliatory 34% tax on all U.S. imports next week.
The strong response shows a degree of preparation that leaves Chinese exports in a tough spot but exacts pain from U.S. exporters that could be used as leverage in any future negotiations.
The Chinese tariffs, announced Friday and taking effect Thursday, match the rate of the ones Trump imposed this week on Chinese products flowing into the United States, coming on top of two rounds of 10% tariffs already declared in February and March, citing allegations of Beijing’s role in the fentanyl crisis. China’s latest retaliatory moves include more export controls on rare earth minerals, critical for various technologies, and a lawsuit at the World Trade Organization.
Beijing also suspended imports of sorghum, poultry and bonemeal from a number of U.S. companies, and added over two dozen others to a list of trade-restricted companies while launching an anti-monopoly investigation into DuPont China Group Co., a subsidiary of the multinational chemical giant.
The rapid-fire shots of tariffs and import curbs hearken back to Trump’s first term in office when the U.S. and China engaged in a trade war that spanned most of his first four years in office that continued to a certain extent under his successor, Joe Biden. China responded at the time with 15% duties on coal and liquefied natural gas products, and a 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery and large-engine cars imported from the U.S.
Beijing also launched last month an anti-monopoly investigation into Google and added PVH, the owner of U.S. fashion brands Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, to its “unreliable entity” list. China also restricted the exports of five rare metals used as key components in the defense and clean energy industries among others.
As the new frictions threaten to escalate into a trade war, here are some key moments in the countries’ years-long trade spat:
March 2017
Shortly after becoming U.S. president for the first time, Trump, determined to reduce trade deficits with other countries, signs an executive order calling for tighter tariff enforcement in anti-dumping cases.
April 2017
During a visit to Beijing, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agree to a 100-day plan for trade talks meant to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with China. The trade talks fail by July.
August 2017
Trump launches an investigation into alleged Chinese theft of U.S. intellectual property, which the U.S. estimated was costing it up to $600 billion a year.
January 2018
The U.S. announces 30% tariffs on imported solar panels, which come mostly from China.
April 2018
Beijing hits back with tariffs on U.S. imports worth about $3 billion, including 15% duties on products including fruits, nuts, wine and steel pipes, and a 25% tax on pork, recycled aluminum and six other types of goods.
A day later, the U.S. ups the ante by slapping a 25% tax on Chinese goods from the aerospace, machinery and medical industries worth about $50 billion. China retaliates with 25% duties on aircraft, automobiles, soybeans and chemicals among other imports, worth about another $50 billion.
June-August 2018
The two countries impose at least three more rounds of tit-for-tat tariffs affecting more than $250 billion worth of Chinese goods and more than $110 billion worth of U.S. imports to China. These include 10% tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods that take effect in September 2018 and are supposed to increase to 25% on Jan. 1, 2019.
December 2018-May 2019
Washington and Beijing fail to iron out a trade deal after agreeing to halt new tariffs in December 2018. After the talks collapse, Trump goes ahead and raises tariffs from 10% to 25% on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.
May 2019
Washington bans Chinese technology company Huawei from buying parts and components from U.S. companies.
June 2019
Trump and Xi agree in a phone call to restart trade talks, but these hit numerous snags in the next five months.
January 2020
The U.S. and China sign a Phase One trade deal through which China commits to buying an additional $200 billion of U.S. goods and services over the next two years. However, a research group later found China had bought essentially none of the goods promised.
October 2022
Biden, who had retained most of the tariffs enacted under Trump, issues sweeping new restrictions on selling semiconductors and chipmaking equipment to China. These curbs will be expanded in October 2023 and December 2024.
February 2024
On his campaign trail, Trump says that he plans to impose tariffs of at least 60% on all Chinese imports if he wins a second term in office.
May 2024
Biden raises tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, solar cells, steel, aluminum and medical equipment.
Feb. 4, 2025
New 10% tariffs on all Chinese imports to the U.S. come into effect. China retaliates the same day by announcing a flurry of countermeasures, including duties on American coal, liquefied natural gas and agricultural machinery.
March 4, 2025
Additional 10% tariffs on all Chinese goods will go into effect. China responds with additional tariffs of up to 15% on imports of key U.S. farm products, including chicken, pork, soy and beef, and expanded controls on doing business with key U.S. companies. The tariffs went into effect on March 10.
April 3, 2025
On Trump’s so-called tariff “Liberation Day,” he announces additional 34% duties on all Chinese imports, alongside tariffs on goods from countries around the world. The sweeping tariffs are to come into effect April 9.
April 4, 2025
China announces other retaliatory moves including more export controls on rare earth minerals, and files a lawsuit at the World Trade Organization.
China also suspends imports of sorghum, poultry and bonemeal from several U.S. companies, adds 27 firms to lists of companies facing trade restrictions, and starts an anti-monopoly probe into DuPont China Group Co.