The main China tariffs in 2025 started as follows:
- A 10% minimum baseline tariff took effect on April 5, 2025.
- Additional reciprocal tariffs on Chinese goods began on April 9, 2025, initially at 34%, which were later increased to 145% after escalations in early April 2025.
- The U.S. also imposed a 20% "fentanyl" tariff on Chinese imports, effective from March 4, 2025.
- On August 1, 2025, new tariffs on copper-containing products, including some from China, began at a 50% rate.
However, the United States extended a tariff truce, temporarily suspending planned tariff hikes. The extension signed in August 2025 prevents tariff rates on Chinese goods from spiking until November 10, 2025. Without this extension, tariffs would have risen back to their high April 2025 levels. To summarize:
- Baseline 10% tariff started April 5, 2025.
- Reciprocal tariff on China started April 9, 2025, with increases following shortly.
- 20% fentanyl tariff from March 4, 2025.
- Copper-related tariffs from August 1, 2025.
- Tariff escalation paused until November 10, 2025, by executive order signed in August 2025.
This means active tariffs started mainly in early April 2025, with extensions delaying any increases until at least November 2025.
