Episodes

  • US Imposes Massive 55 Percent Tariffs on China Amid Trade War Escalation Threatening Global Supply Chains and Jobs

    US Imposes Massive 55 Percent Tariffs on China Amid Trade War Escalation Threatening Global Supply Chains and Jobs
    Jul 9 2025
    Welcome to the China Tariff News and Tracker podcast. Today is July 9, 2025, and there are major updates on the tariff front between the United States and China under the Trump administration. Listeners, the big headline right now is that the United States and China reached a pivotal deal in June, setting U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports at a massive 55 percent, while China’s tariffs on American goods stand at 10 percent, according to Time Magazine. This represents one of the highest tariff rates from the U.S. side in decades and is part of a broader effort by President Trump to fundamentally reshape the terms of trade with China.

    Just this week, President Trump issued an executive order updating neighbors and partners on new reciprocal tariffs, but importantly, the changes and deadline extensions do not apply to China. The 55 percent tariff rate remains locked in for Chinese imports under Executive Order 14298 from May 12, 2025, as outlined by trade law experts at internationaltradeinsights.com. Other countries, like Japan and South Korea, have had their deadline for higher tariffs pushed to August 1 to allow more time for negotiations, but China is excluded from any extension or negotiation window at this time.

    This hardline stance is reshaping supply chains across Asia. Politico reports the White House has recently pressured countries like Vietnam to clamp down on transshipment of Chinese goods, threatening a 40 percent tariff on goods routed to the U.S. that originate in China. China’s Ministry of Commerce has condemned these deals, urging all parties to resist what it calls “tariff exemptions at the expense of China’s interests.” Chinese officials are calling for adherence to international trade rules, reminding Asian countries that their economic futures remain closely tied to China, whose trade with ASEAN nations topped $900 billion last year—double the region’s U.S. trade.

    The economic cost of these tariffs is significant for the U.S. Michael Waugh of the Minneapolis Fed calculates the tariff rate on China jumped by 28.2 percentage points since February 1, 2025, meaning the current tariffs are costing the U.S. nearly 650,000 jobs due to higher input costs. If the U.S. were to revert to the peak tariff levels imposed earlier this spring, job losses could balloon to 2.3 million nationwide. Additional Chinese retaliation could strip away another 307,000 American jobs, particularly harming agricultural regions like the Midwest, which are heavily exposed to Chinese countermeasures.

    Listeners, as we watch for next steps, the Trump administration’s stance is clear: tariffs on China are here to stay for now, and the economic and geopolitical ripple effects are just beginning to play out.

    Thanks for tuning in to China Tariff News and Tracker. Don’t forget to subscribe for the latest updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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    3 mins
  • US China Trade War Escalates: Tariffs Reach 17.6% Highest Since 1934 Impacting Households and Global Markets

    US China Trade War Escalates: Tariffs Reach 17.6% Highest Since 1934 Impacting Households and Global Markets
    Jul 8 2025
    Welcome to today’s episode of China Tariff News and Tracker. Significant tariff and trade news is breaking this week as the United States, under President Trump’s administration, maintains its tough posture toward China, keeping listeners on edge for changes that could impact global markets and daily lives alike.

    Currently, imports from China face a 10% baseline reciprocal tariff rate, as detailed by the White House’s announcement on July 7. Despite a temporary 90-day suspension of increased tariffs on several major trading partners, this suspension specifically does not apply to China. For Chinese goods, tariffs and regulatory pressure remain in full effect. The special suspension for other partners has now been extended until August 1, but nothing has softened for shipments from the People’s Republic of China.

    In related measures, the U.S. government has tightened rules around the “de minimis” exemption, which allowed low-value packages—typically under $800—to enter the U.S. without duties. As of May, President Trump ordered that eligible Chinese-origin goods now face duties of 54% ad valorem or $100 per item for international postal shipments. This threshold, meant to exempt less expensive consumer imports, is being phased out for Chinese goods, causing a sharp spike in costs for e-commerce and small-scale imports.

    Analysis from the Budget Lab at Yale notes that the cumulative effect of U.S. tariffs in 2025 has driven the national average tariff rate to 17.6%. That’s the highest since 1934. For American households, this means a price level increase of about 1.7% in the short term, reducing average household income by roughly $2,300 for the year. The trade war’s cost is visible in consumer wallets, with the most severe effects felt by lower-income families.

    On the diplomatic front, the Council on Foreign Relations reports that recent U.S.-China trade talks in Geneva and London have shown little movement. Despite the Biden administration’s efforts to find stability, Beijing continues its dual-track response—diversifying trade alliances, accelerating domestic tech development, and enforcing its own export controls. China’s leadership is doubling down on self-reliance and appears prepared for a prolonged standoff, using U.S. pressure as a rallying point for both party loyalty and innovation.

    As China’s economy transitions into the next Five-Year Plan, major bets are being placed on artificial intelligence and domestic manufacturing. The new tariffs may sting, but Chinese policymakers show little sign of distress, having weathered worse in past decades. Instead, the current climate is invigorating China’s efforts to reduce dependence on the U.S. market while leveraging technology to drive future growth.

    Listeners should stay tuned as these reciprocal tariff measures and Beijing’s response continue to reshape the economic relationship between the world’s two largest economies. We’ll be tracking every headline, policy shift, and market ripple so you don’t have to.

    Thank you for tuning in to China Tariff News and Tracker. Don’t forget to subscribe so you stay ahead of the news and analysis that matters. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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    4 mins
  • US-China Trade Tensions Ease: Tariffs Reduced to 30% with Potential Snap-Back Looming in August 2025

    US-China Trade Tensions Ease: Tariffs Reduced to 30% with Potential Snap-Back Looming in August 2025
    Jul 7 2025
    Listeners, welcome to China Tariff News and Tracker, where we keep you updated on the latest tariffs, trade headlines, and breaking policy developments between the United States and China. Today is July 7, 2025, and the trade landscape between the world’s two largest economies remains as turbulent as ever.

    After a dramatic escalation throughout early 2025, the average US tariff on Chinese goods reached an unprecedented 145 percent by mid-spring. These increases were driven by a sequence of executive orders from President Trump, who raised tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and other statutes. The hikes included a universal 10 percent tariff on all countries, a 20 percent “fentanyl” tariff specific to China, and a sharp, country-specific reciprocal tariff that surged from 34 percent in early April to 84 percent and then to 125 percent in just two days, with the sum total hitting Chinese imports with a rate of 145 percent, according to China Briefing and the Tax Foundation. Meanwhile, China had retaliated quickly, imposing an 84 percent tariff on US goods, nearly matching Washington’s moves.

    In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, both sides agreed in Geneva in May to temporarily de-escalate. As announced by the White House and China’s Ministry of Commerce, the reciprocal tariffs were brought down to 10 percent for both countries, with the 20 percent fentanyl tariff still in effect on Chinese goods. The combined US tariff on Chinese imports now sits at 30 percent for a 90-day period set to expire in mid-August. Should no further deal be reached, tariffs are set to snap back up, likely returning to the 34 percent level first imposed in April, rather than the emergency 125 percent rate.

    According to a White House fact sheet, President Trump hailed this agreement as a historic win for the United States, highlighting not only the reduction of Chinese tariffs but also the suspension of non-tariff countermeasures. China, in turn, removed its retaliatory tariffs and suspended restrictions placed since the spring escalation.

    Despite the truce, both governments signaled that these tariff cuts are provisional, meant to create space for continued talks. Negotiations are reportedly focused on persistent concerns over intellectual property, market access, and the cross-border flow of sensitive technology. The White House’s 2025 Trade Policy Agenda reiterates America’s aim to secure “fair and reciprocal” terms, while Chinese officials have warned they will match any future escalation tit-for-tat.

    Listeners, these developments mean that US importers and exporters remain in a temporary holding pattern—with a 30 percent US tariff on Chinese goods and a 10 percent Chinese tariff on US goods holding steady, but the threat of a return to much higher rates looming if talks derail after August.

    Thanks for tuning in to China Tariff News and Tracker. Be sure to subscribe to stay informed as this critical trade story continues to unfold week by week. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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    3 mins
  • US and China Agree to 90-Day Tariff Truce Amid Ongoing Trade Tensions and Negotiations for Market Access

    US and China Agree to 90-Day Tariff Truce Amid Ongoing Trade Tensions and Negotiations for Market Access
    Jul 6 2025
    Listeners, welcome to China Tariff News and Tracker. Today is July 6, 2025, and the US-China trade relationship is once again making headlines with a dramatic and complex set of tariff changes and ongoing negotiations that are reshaping global commerce.

    After a period of steady escalation throughout the spring, the United States and China have agreed to a temporary truce. On May 12, the White House and China's Ministry of Commerce announced a deal to reduce reciprocal tariffs to 10% for 90 days, following direct negotiations in Geneva. This agreement replaced the previous 125 percent tariffs each country imposed on the other just a month earlier. However, one major caveat remains: the US continues to enforce a 20 percent “fentanyl” tariff on Chinese goods, meaning most Chinese imports are effectively still subject to a 30 percent tariff. According to a White House fact sheet, both sides agreed to suspend additional retaliation and committed to future talks on further opening market access. China, for its part, has suspended its own tariffs up to 34% on US products for the duration of the deal, also lasting 90 days.

    The events leading up to this truce were dramatic. In early April, President Trump raised tariffs on Chinese imports to an unprecedented 145 percent, using powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. These moves were justified as actions to address trade imbalances and curb the flow of illicit fentanyl, but observers like the Peterson Institute for International Economics note that average US tariffs on Chinese goods had soared to over 50 percent, covering every single Chinese product. China responded in kind, at one point matching the US tariff hikes up to 125 percent on American exports and introducing licensing requirements that effectively halted exports of critical rare-earth elements—materials vital to high-tech manufacturing.

    These tit-for-tat measures fueled warnings from major US retailers and manufacturers about fast-approaching price hikes and potential product shortages for American consumers. Trump himself appeared to soften his stance later in April, signaling that tariffs could come down “substantially” but would not be eliminated. The recent 90-day reduction appears to be a direct response to those warnings and pressures, as well as a bid to stabilize a volatile economic relationship.

    For now, both sides have three months to negotiate a more permanent solution. If no comprehensive agreement is reached, tariffs could snap back to 34 percent or even return to the peak levels seen in April. Political observers and trade experts remain skeptical about the sustainability of the current pause, especially given the volatile backdrop of US election politics and ongoing strategic rivalry.

    Listeners, that’s the latest on the US-China tariff front. We’ll be back soon to track the next round of headlines and decisions. Thank you for tuning in to China Tariff News and Tracker. Don’t forget to subscribe for the latest updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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    3 mins
  • US China Trade War Escalates: Tariffs Soar to 51.1 Percent, Consumers Face Steep Price Increases in 2025 Showdown

    US China Trade War Escalates: Tariffs Soar to 51.1 Percent, Consumers Face Steep Price Increases in 2025 Showdown
    Jul 4 2025
    Welcome back to China Tariff News and Tracker, your trusted source for the latest on US tariffs, Trump’s trade policy, and the ongoing economic standoff with China.

    Listeners, it’s July 4th, 2025, and there’s a lot happening on the China tariff front. The big headline is that the average US tariff on Chinese goods currently stands at 51.1 percent, covering virtually every product imported from China. This marks a dramatic escalation since President Trump returned to office in January, when average rates jumped by more than 30 percentage points. In recent months, tariffs had surged even higher, briefly peaking at an eye-watering 126.5 percent in early May, before negotiations helped pull rates back down. China’s average tariffs on US goods remain steep as well, now at 32.6 percent, with their own increases matching the escalation from Washington.

    This year has been marked by constant moves and countermoves. Back in early April, Trump announced new “Liberation Day” tariffs, layering a 34 percent duty on Chinese goods on top of the existing 20 percent “fentanyl” tariff. That was compounded with a universal 10 percent baseline tariff on all US imports, affecting not just China but virtually every trading partner worldwide. For a brief period this spring, rates on Chinese imports soared as high as 145 percent after a rapid-fire series of executive orders from the White House.

    Trade tension reached a fever pitch, with both the US and China imposing and ratcheting up reciprocal tariffs almost daily. Just as prices for consumer goods—especially shoes and apparel—were set to skyrocket, negotiators from both countries convened in Geneva. On May 12, following talks between Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and newly appointed US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the two sides agreed to a 90-day tariff ceasefire.

    Under this latest deal, both countries rolled back their highest tariffs. The US rate on Chinese imports dropped from a staggering 125 percent to a combined 30 percent—comprising a 10 percent baseline tariff plus the 20 percent fentanyl surcharge. China, for its part, suspended its new 34 percent tariff and other non-tariff countermeasures, offering a temporary reprieve for US exports. However, if a comprehensive deal isn’t reached within this 90-day period, tariffs are set to snap back to higher levels, with the US scheduled to return to a 34 percent baseline tariff on Chinese goods.

    President Trump’s trade team touts these moves as historic wins that showcase America’s leverage and his determination to protect US industry. But the impact on American consumers is already being felt. According to The Budget Lab at Yale, the average effective tariff rate in the US is now 15.8 percent, the highest since 1936. Households are seeing price increases across the board, with shoes up 33 percent and apparel 28 percent higher in the short run, accounting for an average per-household income loss of over $2,000 in 2025 dollars.

    As all eyes turn to the 90-day negotiating window, business leaders and consumers alike are bracing for what may come next. The message from Washington is clear: expect tariffs—especially on China—to remain a central part of US trade policy as long as President Trump is in office.

    Thanks for tuning in to China Tariff News and Tracker. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an update. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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    4 mins
  • US and China Reach Temporary Tariff Truce Lowering Rates to 10 Percent After Months of Escalating Trade Tensions

    US and China Reach Temporary Tariff Truce Lowering Rates to 10 Percent After Months of Escalating Trade Tensions
    Jun 30 2025
    Welcome to China Tariff News and Tracker, your source for the latest headlines and analysis on US-China trade tensions, Trump-era tariffs, and cross-Pacific commerce. Today is June 30, 2025, and there have been significant updates in the tariff landscape that listeners need to know.

    Just weeks ago, the United States and China reached a temporary truce after a dramatic series of tariff escalations earlier this spring. On May 12th, after weekend negotiations in Geneva, President Trump and Chinese officials agreed to lower reciprocal tariffs to a 10 percent baseline, a sharp decrease from the record highs seen earlier this year. According to a White House fact sheet, both countries agreed to eliminate most of the dramatic retaliatory measures imposed since April, with each side pledging to suspend an additional 24 percent effective tariff for an initial period of 90 days. This means that, for at least the next few weeks, most US products entering China and Chinese goods entering the US face a 10 percent tariff, offering some relief to global supply chains and importers after months of volatility.

    These changes come on the heels of a rapid-fire tariff war that reached fever pitch in April and early May. Following an April 2nd executive order, the US imposed a baseline 34 percent tariff on most imports from China, which Beijing matched in kind. The White House then raised tariffs several times, ultimately peaking at 125 percent on Chinese goods by April 9th. China tracked these increases closely, at one point raising its own tariffs to 125 percent on US products. Both governments also took sector-specific actions: for example, the US doubled Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum from China to 50 percent as of June 4th, and China imposed new anti-dumping duties, such as a 74.9 percent rate on certain engineering plastics.

    While the May truce dramatically reduced tariff rates, the situation remains fragile. President Trump, speaking on Truth Social, made it clear that the 10 percent minimum base tariff on Chinese goods is “here to stay.” The White House has also highlighted its authority to reimpose or increase tariffs quickly if negotiations sour or if China backslides on commitments regarding fentanyl, intellectual property, or rare earth exports. Chinese officials have been clear that they do not want a trade war but are prepared to "fight to the end" should the US resume escalation.

    Industry reaction has been mixed. American manufacturers and retailers welcomed the tariff pause but warn that uncertainty is causing supply chain disruptions, price fluctuations, and difficulties in long-term planning. Meanwhile, experts caution that the 90-day window could close without further progress, potentially reigniting the tariff spiral.

    That wraps up today's episode of China Tariff News and Tracker. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for the latest updates on this fast-changing story. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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    3 mins
  • US-China Trade War Escalates and Retreats: Trump Imposes Massive Tariffs Before Negotiating 90-Day Truce in 2025

    US-China Trade War Escalates and Retreats: Trump Imposes Massive Tariffs Before Negotiating 90-Day Truce in 2025
    Jun 29 2025
    Listeners, welcome to China Tariff News and Tracker. It’s June 29, 2025, and the US-China tariff landscape has been nothing short of dramatic in recent months—especially with President Donald Trump’s return to the White House and his renewed focus on trade with China.

    Tariffs between the United States and China have shifted significantly since early April, when President Trump announced a sweeping 34 percent “reciprocal tariff” on most Chinese imports. China responded in kind, imposing its own 34 percent levy on US goods and introducing strict new licensing rules that effectively halted American access to Chinese rare-earth minerals and magnets, a key input for many US tech and defense industries, as noted by Wikipedia’s update on April 2 and 10. In just days, the trade standoff escalated, with both sides rapidly raising tariff rates—the US moved to a 104 percent base tariff and then, briefly, to as high as 145 percent, while China matched these steps with retaliatory tariffs reaching up to 125 percent on US goods through mid-April.

    By late April, widespread concerns from US business leaders about surging prices and looming shortages pressured the Trump administration to reconsider its approach. This led to a notable softening of rhetoric from Washington, and by early May, both sides had agreed to reset the tariff standoff. According to a May 12 joint statement released through the White House, President Trump and Chinese officials negotiated a truce: each country suspended the bulk of reciprocal tariffs, lowering them to a 10 percent base rate for an initial 90-day period. China also agreed to suspend non-tariff countermeasures enacted since April, and the US retained some previous baseline duties, such as the Section 301 and Section 232 tariffs still in place from earlier rounds. China Briefing and Thompson Hine both confirm these details, highlighting May 14 as the effective date for these reductions and the start of the ongoing truce period.

    As of today, the average US tariff on Chinese goods stands at about 55 percent, a composite rate that includes the 10 percent baseline plus sector-specific measures—up from just 24 percent at the start of the year but dramatically lower than the springtime peak of more than 120 percent, according to China Briefing’s June 18 update. China, meanwhile, now maintains an average tariff of roughly 10 percent on US goods, with certain anti-dumping duties and special levies on specific products like agricultural commodities and engineering plastics still in effect. The Peterson Institute notes that these rates remain far higher than they were before the Trump administration returned, covering nearly all US-China trade flows.

    Looking ahead, both countries have pledged to enter new talks to address deeper concerns—market access, industrial policy, and technology protection among them—but it’s clear the tariff issue is nowhere near fully resolved. If this fragile truce holds when the current 90-day window expires in August is the next major question on the minds of companies and consumers alike.

    Thanks for tuning in to this edition of China Tariff News and Tracker. Don’t forget to subscribe for the latest updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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    4 mins