Chinese: Deals planned this trip between US and Chinese officials in Switzerland are a pinnacle of more than three months of startling rounds of hostile tariffsbetween the two nations that have crippled each other’s exporters and dragged on their economies. Washington and Beijing are entering deals with tariffs on each other’s products at an all-time high. US duties on Chinese imports stand at 145 %, while China’s retaliatory tariffs on US goods have reached 125 %. US President Donald Trump said he believed the conversations may bring substantial development, and that he was opened to lowering the tariffs substantially if Beijing made agreements. China, however, has reiterated calling for Washington to withdraw the taxes ahead of the discussions.
Activity Sindoor
Here is a play-by-play of how US and Chinese tariffs have reached such sky-high levels since the beginning of Trump’s second term in office: Feb 1, 2025: Trump signs an executive order imposing 10 % tariffs on China, as well as 25 % duties on Mexico and Canada. He eventually announces a 30-day break on the Mexican and American tariffs. Feb 4: The 10 % taxes on all Chinese exports to the US come into effect. China retaliates the same day by announcing a burst of countermeasures, including tasks on American fuel, liquefied natural gas and agricultural technology. March 4: Trump imposes additional 10 % tariffs on all Chinese goods, bringing the total level of duties to 20 %. China reacts with levies of up to 15 % on exports of key US farm products including meat, meat, soy and meat, and expanded regulates on doing business with important US companies. March 10: Taiwanese taxes and actions announced on March 4 go into effect. April 2: On Trump’s so-called price” Liberation Day,” he announces more 34 % tasks on all Chinese exports, alongside tariffs on products from countries around the world. The broad tariffs are to come into effect April 9. April 4: China fights back by imposing 34 % tariffs on all US products, effective April 10, as well as other hostile measures including more export controls on rare earth materials. China also suspends imports of maize, chicken and bonemeal from many US businesses, adds 27 firms to lists of companies facing industry restrictions, and starts an anti-monopoly spacecraft into DuPont China Group, a subsidiary of the US business DuPont. April 7: Trump threatens China with additional 50 % tariffs if it doesn’t roll back its 34 % reciprocal tariffs. April 9: Trump’s” Liberation Day” tariffs come into effect. The US raises tariffs on China even higher than previously announced, to 104 %. Beijing retaliates with duties of 84 % on US goods, effective April 10. Trump further raises tariffs on all Chinese goods to 145 %, effective immediately. April 11: China raises its tariffs on all US goods to 125 %, effective April 12. Beijing says it would not raise the duties any further. May 6: The Trump administration announces that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will meet with their Chinese counterparts in Geneva. China will be represented at the talks by Vice Premier He Lifeng.
