Trump Intensifies Tariffs on Chinese Goods
US-China Trade Tariff Truce Extended Until November 10
In a significant development, US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to extend the US-China trade tariff truce, pushing the expiration date to November 10, 2025. This extension halts a sharp increase in tariffs that would have raised US duties on Chinese goods to potentially 145 percent and China’s retaliatory tariffs to about 125 percent.
The tariff truce reflects continued discussions aimed at maintaining economic stability and possibly setting the stage for another Trump-Xi summit later in 2025. Despite this truce, significant tariff activity has continued on specific goods, such as a 50 percent tariff imposed in August 2025 on a range of semi-finished copper and copper-intensive products under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act.
The tariffs were initially set at more than 100 percent on goods from each side, and without this extension, they were scheduled to be imposed if an agreement was not reached by the deadline. The threatened tariffs on US imports into China were also suspended for 90 days in May, and the US had initially suspended its planned tariffs on Chinese imports for 90 days in May as well.
The tariff negotiations between the US and China continued until just hours before the deadline, and the US and China reached an agreement to delay the threatened tariffs for another 90 days. This agreement followed talks in Geneva in May, where the tariffs were significantly reduced for an initial 90 days.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed hope for "positive results" in the tariff conflict, and Lin Jian, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, stated that the US and China should work towards positive results based on equality, respect, and mutual benefit.
As of August 2025, the average US tariffs on Chinese imports stood significantly elevated, reaching above 126 percent in May before some reductions, with Chinese tariffs on US goods averaging around 32.6 percent. By August 2025, tariffs covered all Chinese goods, although some sectoral carveouts remain. Additionally, specific tariff adjustments and exemptions have been implemented during 2025, reflecting ongoing negotiation nuances.
Trump told reporters that the talks were "going quite well" and emphasized his "very good relationship" with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The tariff truce extension provides a temporary reprieve from the looming tariff increases, but it remains to be seen whether the US and China can reach a more permanent solution to their trade disputes.
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- Despite the extension of the US-China trade tariff truce, it's crucial for the community and employment policies to address potential economic instability and job losses due to tariff-related uncertainties.
- The US-China trade tariff truce, policy-and-legislation, politics, war-and-conflicts, and general-news are all interconnected, as the extension of the truce could impact various aspects of US and Chinese policy, including employment and community policy.
