Z2Data’sTariff Hub
Stay ahead of shifting tariffs and their impact on your supply chain with our Tariff Content Hub. Our comprehensive hub provides in-depth reports and insights to help you understand the latest developments in tariff rates, their specific impact on your business, and the most up-to-date strategies for compliance.
Tariff Watch, June 13
- On Tuesday, June 10, officials from the U.S. and China announced that, following two days of negotiations in London, the nations had settled on a preliminary framework for a new trade agreement. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that the agreement both sides had come to would ease the export restrictions China had imposed on rare earth elements (REEs) and related magnets. In return, the U.S. planned to lift some of their own trade restrictions in what Lutnick characterized as a “balanced way.” According to the commerce secretary, both sides will now return to their respective presidents to present the proposals.
- On Wednesday, June 11, President Trump announced that the “deal with China is done.” According to Trump, a “framework deal” was reached that would see the U.S. keep its 55% tariff rate on Chinese imports, while China would likewise maintain its 10% tariff on American imports. In a succession of social media posts, Trump declared the framework deal a “great WIN for both countries!!” Trump also announced, crucially, that the agreement would make it easier for U.S. companies to secure rare earth minerals (REEs) and related magnets from China, which had imposed stringent export restrictions on those materials.
To view past updates, please click here.
Industry Response and Implications
As the Trump administration continues implementing tariffs and the global trade environment grows increasingly restrictive, U.S. businesses will need to start adapting their strategic approaches to key variables like COO, sourcing resilience, and import cost relief.
Your country of origin data may not be reliable
- The U.S. is expanding tariffs on goods from China and other high-risk regions.
- Enforcement is tightening, and officials are now digging deeper into country of origin.
- Firms need to know where critical operations occurred, where sub-assemblies were built, where raw materials were sourced, and whether your documentation can prove it.
Most companies manage COO today through:
- Static COO entries in their ERP
- Supplier or contract manufacturer declarations
- Assumptions tied to final assembly location or shipping origin
Why that approach may no longer be effective:
- Today’s enforcement environment demands more than surface-level origin data.
- U.S. Customs now asks for documentation showing where each meaningful transformation occurred, not just a COO label.
- Even if your records say one thing, officials may disagree. That creates both risk and cost.
What companies should do now:
- Validate COO at the part, assembly, and sub-assembly level.
- Map out where key manufacturing operations and transformations actually occur.
- Build documentation that stands up to audit or regulatory inquiry
- Ensure contract manufacturers and EMS providers are collecting COO data.
- Define responsibility for COO data in supplier contracts and business terms.
Sourcing teams are scrambling to react—again
- New and reinstated U.S. tariffs are hitting industries with little warning, especially those dependent on Chinese-made goods, critical materials, and high-tech components.
- Sourcing teams are being forced into reactive mode—tracking costs, shifting suppliers, and racing to find alternate parts after enforcement has already begun.
Most sourcing strategies today rely on:
- Historical supplier performance
- Static cost models
- Single-source or region-dependent contracts
- Limited awareness of geopolitical or regulatory risk
The current reactive approach leads to:
- Sudden cost spikes from unplanned tariffs
- Inability to meet delivery timelines due to supplier delays
- Risk exposure from non-compliant or high-risk countries of origin
- Strategic sourcing initiatives getting sidelined in favor of damage control
What forward-thinking companies are doing now:
- Building diversified, multi-region supplier strategies
- Modeling parts and suppliers against current and proposed tariff rules
- Identifying and qualifying alternate parts before risk hits
- Mapping sub-tier suppliers and gauging risk exposures
Teams are under pressure to find tariff-free sourcing alternatives
- Procurement needs to reduce China exposure, diversify supply chains, and lower costs.
- These asks often come with limited context, no starting point, and short turnarounds.
- Finding the right part with the right specs without inviting risk has never been harder.
Most sourcing teams rely on:
- Manually maintained AVL or AML spreadsheets
- Supplier suggestions without transparent origin data
- Time-consuming research or incomplete customs classifications
- Trial and error when searching for alternatives
Why that approach may no longer be effective:
- Untimely data leads to alternates that still fall under high-duty categories
- Risks from substituting parts without full analysis of form, fit, and function
- Time lost negotiating with CMs who can’t support high level of sourcing analysis
- Suppliers in lower-risk regions are overlooked
What companies should do now:
- Analyze their full AML for tariff exposure and origin variability
- Segment parts by tariff tier and identify the highest-risk components
- Map supplier sites and COO to validate eligibility under current trade rules
- Seek sourcing alternatives that offer multiple COO options with lower tariff tiers
How Z2Data can help
- For COO: Z2Data provides the intelligence and traceability to handle COO risk with maximum clarity and control.
- For Proactive Sourcing: Manage risk exposure by mapping supplier sites, identifying crosses, and accessing data across over one billion components.
- For Tariff Reduction: Analyze your entire AML, identify lower-tariff alternates, and see which parts have multiple COOs with divergent tariff rates.
But based on our HTS comparison, key components are still exposed, including capacitors, resistors, connectors, sensors, electromechanical parts, and hardware components.
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How Can Companies Determine What Imports Are Subject to Tariffs?
In order to determine whether their imports are subject to tariffs—and what those tariff rates are—businesses can search the U.S. International Trade Commission Tariff Database. When navigating the USITC database, users can either search based on the product itself, or use the product’s HTS code—the 10-digit harmonized tariff schedule code assigned by the International Trade Commission. While searching by the specific item can give users a good indication of the duty rate, referencing a specific HTS code will yield more precise information on tariff figures.
How Are Tariffs Impacting the Electronic Component Supply Chain?
Tariffs are reshaping the global electronics supply chain by increasing costs, impacting sourcing strategies, and complicating supplier relationships. On January 1, 2025, the tariff rate on semiconductors imported from China increased from 25% to 50%, based on actions taken by the Biden administration. Since then, President Trump has imposed additional tariffs totalling 145% on Chinese imports (certain product categories have received exemptions).
Though semiconductors have been excluded from Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, U.S. businesses importing semiconductors from China are still paying a staggering 70% total in U.S. tariffs on those chips. Likewise, with a 25% tariff already in place on printed circuit boards (PCBs) imported from China, companies are now paying a combined 45% tax on those goods.
In addition, President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, which went into effect on April 5 and April 9, respectively, expanded the impact of trade restrictions far beyond China. On April 9, the Trump administration imposed the following across-the-board tariffs, along with many others (currently, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and a number of critical minerals are exempt from these reciprocal tariffs):
- 46% on Vietnam
- 36% on Thailand
- 32% on Indonesia
- 27% on India
- 25% on South Korea
- 24% on Japan
- 24% on Malaysia
- 20% on all EU nations
On Wednesday, April 9, President Trump issued a 90-day pause on the implementation of most of his reciprocal tariffs—though China was excluded from the reprieve.
This remains a highly dynamic situation, with major developments on a weekly, daily, and sometimes even hourly basis.
Are Tariffs Changing the Way Companies Source Parts?
Tariffs are changing the way companies source parts to a limited degree—so far. A number of large corporations in the automotive and consumer electronics sectors have either announced plans to reshore some of their manufacturing to the U.S. or are seriously considering expanding their American manufacturing operations. These companies include Honda, Hyundai, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Volkswagen, and Volvo. It’s important to bear in mind, however, that many of these plans are preliminary and subject to change based on the evolution of the Trump administration’s tariff regime and its impact on global supply chains.
What Are the Disadvantages to Onshoring Manufacturing to the U.S. to Avoid Tariffs?
Companies that want to reshore their manufacturing to the U.S. to avoid the Trump administration’s tariffs will be forced to reckon with several critical obstacles. The first and most well-known of these drawbacks is price. Businesses currently sourcing in countries like China, Vietnam, and Malaysia are going to face immediate cost increases if they shift some or all of their manufacturing inputs to American suppliers.
But higher prices are not the only issue that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and other companies could encounter when reshoring. The U.S.’s manufacturing capacity is not currently equipped to handle droves of businesses in industries like automotive, semiconductors, consumer electronics, and telecommunications abruptly shifting their sourcing to America, and such a large-scale supply chain “migration” could trigger shortages and other disruptions. In addition, although quality is rarely invoked as an issue in U.S. manufacturing, not all the facilities companies would be transitioning their sourcing to in America have the same expertise and efficiency as their counterparts in China and elsewhere.
Finally, companies contemplating reshoring their manufacturing to the U.S. have to grapple with the instability of the current trade environment. Establishing a manufacturing base in the U.S. will take many businesses months and even years—and there’s zero guarantee that this unprecedented tariff regime will still be in place in 2026 or 2027, providing the same incentive structure to do so.
Who Absorbs the Costs of Tariffs?
Nominally, the importing business is always responsible for paying the tariffs to the government of its home country. American OEMs who are importing semiconductors from manufacturers based in China, for example, are currently paying a 70% tariff to the U.S. government. From a legal trade compliance perspective, the Chinese manufacturers supplying those semiconductors have zero responsibility for paying those tariffs.
Are U.S. Importers Negotiating with Suppliers to Mitigate Tariffs?
How U.S. importers navigate tariff costs with their suppliers and distributors varies widely. Contract negotiations are often complex, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for determining who ultimately absorbs the added expense. In order to retain their customers and remain competitive, some foreign suppliers may agree to lower their prices to reduce the cost burden on their U.S. customers. Distributors are another stakeholder in the supply chain, and OEMs may also try to negotiate with them to help offset import taxes. But while these negotiations vary between industries and supply chains, suppliers and distributors are generally resistant to helping cover the costs of tariffs—unless, of course, their business is at stake.
We’re still in the early days of this new U.S. trade regime, and it’s very likely that these dynamics will continue to evolve as the stakes get higher, more clarity and consistency is established, and foreign suppliers start facing the prospect of losing their customers to U.S. manufacturers.
How Does Customs and Border Protection Determine Country of Origin for Imports?
When it comes to determining the Country of Origin (COO) for imports, the U.S. International Trade Administration and Customs and Border Protection adhere to the legal principle of substantial transformation. According to the USITA, “Substantial transformation means that the good underwent a fundamental change in form, appearance, nature, or character” that “adds to the good’s value at an amount or percentage that is significant.”
Determining a COO can be a complex process. For example, if an import was wholly manufactured in a single country, then that nation is the COO. But many products undergo manufacturing inputs in several different countries, making the COO determination significantly less straightforward. For goods with manufacturing inputs from multiple nations, government officials will assign the COO based on the final location where a substantial transformation took place.
What Other Strategies Are Companies Using to Offset Tariffs?
To offset the costs associated with the Trump administration’s tariffs, companies are likely to start pursuing a number of strategies, including:
- Negotiating with their direct suppliers—and in some cases even their sub-tier manufacturers—to help share the burden of tariffs.
- Focusing their strategies on trying to modify the country of origin, working with their suppliers to tweak manufacturing processes or other steps to shift the COO to a country with a lower tariff rate.
- Potentially restructuring their supply chain to diversify away from countries like China, Vietnam, and Thailand, which all now have tariff rates over 30%.
Finally, organizations are also exploring opportunities with foreign trade zones and tariff exclusions, which are outlined in greater detail below.
How Do Companies Apply for Tariff Exclusions?
While the Trump administration has not outlined a specific exclusion request process for the tariffs imposed in 2025, in the past businesses went to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) website and filled out an exclusion request form. These forms typically required detailed information about the product in question, including its Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code, the rationale for exclusion, and the economic impact of the tariff on the company. Companies were also encouraged to provide evidence that the product was not readily available from domestic sources or from countries not subject to the tariff.
Many businesses eventually took this route during the first Trump administration, when the president implemented sectoral tariffs on steel and aluminum and a country-specific tariff on China. According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), around 13% of the exclusion requests for Chinese imports were approved during the first Trump administration—though some companies reported much higher success rates.
Can Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZs) Protect Importers From Tariffs?
Foreign-trade zones (FTZs) are specially designated sites that are supervised by CBP but are legally considered outside U.S. customs territory. In practice, this means that imports can be moved into FTZs without needing to pay tariffs or any other related import taxes. Goods transferred into these zones only trigger these duty payments if and when they exit the FTZ and enter the U.S. for consumption. If they’re re-exported to another country, the original importer may not have any tariff responsibility at all.
FTZs offer importers two primary benefits. First, they function as tax shelters where businesses can defer import payments. Second, importers can carry out a range of different processes on imported goods in FTZs, including assembly, manufacturing, and processing. If businesses are able to modify the import so that it technically fits into a different product category with a lower tariff rate, then they are only responsible for paying the lower rate. Firms must remember, however, that any manufacturing steps carried out in FTZs that result in a substantial transformation that changes the CBP classification of the import must be authorized by the FTZ Board
Tariff Watch Archive
Tariff Watch, June 9
- On Monday, June 9, top officials from the U.S. and China will meet in London to continue discussing a potential trade deal that could bring major economic relief to the two superpowers. The Trump administration has sent Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, while the Chinese Community Party (CCP) is represented by He Lifeng, China’s vice premier for economic policy. Those familiar with the proceedings expect the trade talks to run through Tuesday.
Tariff Watch, June 6
- On Thursday, June 5, U.S. President Trump and Chinese President Xi Xinping finally held their long-awaited phone call, as both countries try to make progress on tariff talks and work toward a trade detente. Afterward, Trump characterized the call as “positive,” while Chinese state media reported that Xi continued to insist that the U.S. remove the detrimental trade restrictions imposed on China.
Tariff Watch, June 4
- On Wednesday, June 4, tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum doubled, increasing from 25 to 50%. The increased tariff rate on the metals are part of President Trump’s plans to provide a leg up for U.S. manufacturers and invigorate a domestic industry that has lost significant business to foreign competitors in recent decades. Trump originally announced the tariff increase while visiting a Pennsylvania steel mill last week. The Trump administration’s executive order noted that the new tariff rate was intended to “counter foreign countries that continue to offload low-priced, excess steel and aluminum in the United States market and thereby undercut the competitiveness of the United States steel and aluminum industries.”
Tariff Watch, June 2
- On Friday, May 30, President Trump announced at a U.S. Steel factory in Pennsylvania that he would be doubling the current tariff rate on steel and aluminum, from 25% to 50%. He later clarified his announcement through a post on Truth Social, specifying that the new 50% tariff rate would take effect on June 4. “It is my great honor to raise the Tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%, effective Wednesday, June 4th. Our steel and aluminum industries are coming back like never before. This will be yet another BIG jolt of great news for our wonderful steel and aluminum workers. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” he wrote.
- On Monday, June 2, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) issued a statement accusing the United States of violating the recent trade agreement struck in Geneva, Switzerland, just a few weeks ago. MOFCOM said that the U.S. had implemented new guidelines on export controls for AI semiconductors, as well as restrictions on chip design software. “If the US insists on its own way and continues to damage China’s interests,” the Ministry said, “China will continue to take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”
Tariff Watch, May 30
- On Thursday, May 29, a federal appeals court stayed the decision reached a day earlier, by the U.S. Court of International Trade, that deemed President Trump’s tariffs an act of “unbounded authority” and directed the Trump administration to end most of the so-called reciprocal tariffs. Thursday’s ruling, which was made by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, effectively pauses the USCIT’s decision. A panel of judges with the appeals court is currently considering the administration’s request for a longer postponement in the enforcement of the USCIT ruling.
Tariff Watch, May 29
- On Wednesday, May 28, the U.S. Court of International Trade, a federal court that interprets, applies, and adjudicates on customs and international trade law, found that President Trump overstepped his bounds in implementing “reciprocal tariffs” on dozens of countries all over the world. The USCIT asserted that federal law did not grant the president “unbounded authority” to impose sweeping tariffs, and that Trump exceeded his powers when he administered them. What remains to be seen, however, is how the Trump administration is going to respond to this decision, and if and when the ruling will materially impact existing tariffs. The USCIT gave the Trump administration 10 days to carry out the bureaucratic steps necessary to cease many of its tariffs. The executive branch, meanwhile, has already begun the process of appealing the decision through the U.S. Court of Appeals.
Tariff Watch, May 27
- On Sunday, May 25, President Trump announced that he had agreed to delay the 50% tariff on EU goods entering the U.S. until July 9. Trump had originally set forth the possibility of imposing a 50% tariff on EU imports earlier in the week, after denouncing on Truth Social a lack of progress in trade negotiations with the economic bloc. Following a call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, however, Trump decided to push implementation by around five weeks. Speaking to reporters at Morristown Municipal Airport in New Jersey on Sunday, Trump said that the European Commission president “wants to get down to serious negotiation.” Immediately following the talk with reporters, Trump posted on Truth Social that “talks will begin rapidly.”
Tariff Watch, May 23
- On Friday, May 23, President Trump published several posts on Truth Social that threatened to resume a global trade war that had simmered in recent weeks. First, Trump asserted that Apple’s iPhones should be “manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else.” If the company did not start onshoring its manufacturing, he said, the smartphones could face a tariff of 25%. Later Friday morning, the president took to the social media platform again to express his mounting frustrations with trade talks between the U.S. and the European Union, which he contended were “going nowhere.” In light of this lack of progress, Trump wrote that he was “recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025.”
Tariff Watch, May 20
- On Tuesday, May 20, outlets began reporting that Chinese shipments of the Apple iPhone, as well as other mobile devices, dropped to their lowest levels in nearly 15 years during the month of April. Smartphones exported from China to the U.S. declined over 70% in the month, a decrease that was significantly more severe than the 21% drop in Chinese exports overall. The April statistics highlight just how impactful the Trump administration’s tariffs have already been on high-tech supply chains that rely on direct and subtier manufacturers based in China.
Tariff Watch, May 15
- Earlier this week, the White House issued an executive order that reduced the “de minimis” tariff on Chinese goods to as low as 30%, depending on the carrier. The de minimis category covers imports that are valued at $800 or less, and the Trump administration had implemented a tariff rate between 120% and 145% for items below this valuation being imported from China. The U.S. government has also kept in place an alternative, $100 “flat-fee” tariff option for de minimis Chinese imports. A previously planned increase to $200 for that duty measure—originally slated for implementation on June 1—has been scratched.
Tariff Watch, May 12
- On Monday, May 12, the U.S. announced that it had reached a temporary trade deal with China after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with the nation’s top trade official, He Lifeng, in Switzerland over the weekend. The world’s two largest economies agreed to substantially drop the reciprocal tariffs that have roiled the global economy and scrambled U.S. supply chains long reliant on Chinese manufacturing. The U.S. will lower the tariff President Trump imposed in April from 145% to 30%, while China will mirror the 115% drop by lowering its own tariff on U.S. goods from 125% to 10%. For now, the deescalation is only a reprieve, as the measures are set to last for 90 days. Bessent told CNBC on Monday that he expected to meet with trade negotiators from China again in the coming weeks to continue trade talks, with the goal of securing a more comprehensive, lasting agreement.
Tariff Watch, May 7
- On Wednesday, May 7, the Chinese government indicated that it would move forward with trade talks with the U.S. in an effort to ratchet down geopolitical tensions and assuage the prohibitively high tariffs currently being imposed by both countries. China said that its top trade official, He Lifeng, would meet with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Switzerland later this week. Having for weeks taken a hardline stance against capitulating to the Trump administration’s approach to trade relations, China announced that it had arrived at this decision with a “full consideration of global expectations, China’s interests and the calls of American industry and consumers.” The talks are scheduled to take place in Geneva on Saturday.
Tariff Watch, May 5
- On Sunday, May 4, President Trump announced on social media plans to impose 100% tariffs on movies made in foreign countries. Trump’s post proclaimed that “The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death,” and that he had authorized the United States Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, to “immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands.” Details at this point remain vague, with most reports unclear on the scope of Trump’s announced tariff, including whether it would impact American productions filmed internationally, independent foreign films, and/or streaming movies.
Tariff Watch, May 2
- On Friday, May 2, the Trump administration officially closed a loophole that had been permitting imports valued at $800 or less to be exempted from tariffs and other customs duties. The loophole, known as the de minimis rule or the de minimis exception, helped lead to an unprecedented increase in the number of small, cheap packages shipped to the U.S. from countries like China. The Trump administration believes that closing this loophole will help domestic businesses grow more competitive by throttling the flood of cheap goods from overseas.
Tariff Watch, May 1
- On Wednesday, April 30, Chinese state-run media reported that the Trump administration reached out to Beijing in an effort to begin tariff de-escalation talks. Yuyuantantian, a Weibo account affiliated with China Central Television (CCTV), reported in a post that the U.S. government has initiated contact via several different channels, citing anonymous sources with knowledge of the subject.
Tariff Watch, April 30
- On Tuesday, April 29, President Trump signed two executive orders granting relief to the U.S. auto industry from a wave of costly tariffs. In the first and most consequential of the executive orders, Trump exempted automakers from any tariffs outside the 25% levy on imported vehicles that went into effect on April 3 (a related 25% tariff on auto parts is still set to be implemented on May 3). The second EO allows automakers to apply for tariff relief that could cover some of the costs associated with importing auto parts. This cost mitigation program is set to remain in effect for two years. Because the two 25% auto industry tariffs remain in effect, however, experts still expect the costs of vehicles, insurance, and repairs to rise markedly in the coming months.
Tariff Watch, April 28
- On Monday, April 28, reports continued to surface that a number of Asian nations, including South Korea, India, and Japan, were actively engaged in trade talks with the U.S. In addition, corporations are telling major outlets that the impact of the 145% combined tariffs on China will soon start to reverberate through their businesses. So far, retailers like Walmart and Target have been able to insulate themselves from the effects of disproportionately high duty rates because of existing inventory. But those stockpiles will start running out by the middle of May, and both companies have said that the transition into the new trade environment could include higher prices and even empty shelves—presumably owing to the suspension of supply chains in China.
Tariff Watch, April 25
- On Thursday, April 24, Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yadong addressed comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump earlier in the week that the two nations—now engaged in an increasingly bitter and consequential trade conflict—are participating in discussions around deescalation. While firmly denying that any trade talks had been taking place, He called on the U.S. to remove the “unilateral tariff measures” imposed on China. "The person who tied the bell must untie it," the spokesperson told reporters during a press conference.
Tariff Watch, April 23
- On Tuesday, April 22, President Trump told reporters at a White House event that his administration’s prohibitively high tariffs on China will soon be lowered significantly. “145% is very high and it won’t be that high,” Trump said while answering questions from the media in the Oval Office. “It won’t be anywhere near that high. It’ll come down substantially. But it won’t be zero.” The remarks signal a stark shift from the steadfast stance President Trump has held for the past several weeks. The softer approach was on display earlier in the day as well, when Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told attendants at a conference held by JP Morgan Chase that the current trade dynamics between the U.S. and China were not sustainable.
Tariff Watch, April 21
- On Monday, April 21, the Chinese government issued a sharp response to reports that the U.S. will offer tariff exemptions to other nations if they reduce their trade with China. Beijing called the actions economic coercion and warned other countries that embracing a policy of appeasement will only harm all parties involved in exchange for a temporary reprieve.
- On Monday, April 21, outlets reported that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are scheduled to meet with South Korea’s Finance Minister, Choi Sang-mok, and Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun in Washington later this week to begin tariff and trade negotiations. South Korea’s acting President, Han Duck-soo, recently issued a statement saying that the nation will work to “find a win-win solution for both countries through calm and serious consultations.”
Tariff Watch, April 17
Following President Trump’s Liberation Day announcements, the past two weeks have seen a flurry of new developments, including retaliatory tariffs by other countries, last-minute pauses on Liberation Day tariffs, and even new exclusions impacting specific sectors.
- On Wednesday, April 9, a new reciprocal 84% tariff on all Chinese goods took effect, bringing the total tariff rate on Chinese goods to 104%. (Semiconductors remain exempt from the reciprocal tariffs for now, but they’re still subject to a 70% overall tariff rate.) In response to the tariff, China’s State Council Tariff Commission announced plans to levy an 84% tariff on all U.S. imports, effective April 10. Following this escalation, President Trump issued a 90-day pause on the implementation of most of his reciprocal tariffs—excluding those targeting China. Instead, the Trump administration declared that it would further raise tariffs on Chinese imports to 125%.
- On Friday, April 11, China continued the tit-for-tat escalation with the U.S. by raising its tariff rate on American imports to 125%. Later in the day, Customs and Border Protection issued a bulletin stating that a number of major electronics imports would be exempt from the Trump administration’s reciprocal tariffs. Smartphones, semiconductors, computer monitors, and a range of electronic components are now temporarily excluded from the 125% reciprocal tariffs. (The CBP bulletin listed 20 specific product categories.) The 20% across-the-board tariffs on all Chinese imports issued prior to Liberation Day—sometimes referred to as the “fentanyl tariffs”—are still in effect for these products.
- On Sunday, April 13, President Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he planned to announce new tariffs on foreign semiconductors being imported into the U.S. over the following week. The development came just two days after the Trump administration issued an exemption for 20 different electronic product categories, including semiconductors.
- On Tuesday, April 15, news outlets reported that China had begun directing its domestic airlines to stop sourcing jets from American aerospace manufacturer Boeing, and to cease purchasing aircraft parts from Boeing and other U.S. aerospace firms. These measures are in line with China’s efforts to utilize restrictions beyond tariffs in its ongoing trade conflict with the U.S.