In a dramatic shift, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he is temporarily slashing tariffs on imports from most U.S. trade partners to 10% for the next 90 days, opening the door for negotiations with dozens of nations. The move comes just hours after heightened tariffs—dubbed “reciprocal”—went into effect on goods from nearly 90 countries.
But while much of the world gets a brief reprieve, China isn’t so lucky.
In a social media post, Trump declared an immediate increase in tariffs on Chinese imports to 125%, citing Beijing’s “lack of respect” for global markets. China, which earlier the same day hiked its own tariffs on U.S. goods to 84%, remains at the center of the president’s increasingly hardline trade stance.
Despite the clash with China, Trump claimed the broader strategy is working. According to the president, more than 75 countries have reached out to U.S. officials in hopes of striking new trade deals since last week’s initial tariff bombshell.
A Brief Timeline of Trade Turbulence
- April 2: Trump announces a sweeping 10% baseline tariff on imports from over 180 nations.
- April 3: A subset of 90 countries are hit with reciprocal tariffs ranging from 11% to 50%.
- April 10: Trump reduces tariffs to 10% across the board—except China—for a 90-day negotiation period.
- Same day: China raises its own tariffs to 84%; Trump responds by hiking Chinese tariffs to 125%.
What’s Next?
While the 90-day pause offers a chance for diplomacy, the uncertainty isn’t over. Trump’s willingness to ratchet tariffs back up—and China’s clear resolve to counterstrike—suggest this global trade standoff is far from resolved.
