The Tariff Timeline You Didn’t See Coming 😲

TRADE NEWS

U.S.–China Tariff Timeline (Apr 2025)

With so much happening over the past couple of months, it’s been hard to keep track of what’s actually going on. It feels like there’s a new tariff announcement every day—so we’ve put together a timeline update of April events… so far.

Apr 2, 2025

🇺🇸 U.S. — “Reciprocal Tariff” of 34%
Trump announces a sharp escalation with a 34% “Liberation Day” tariff, citing unfair practices.
Combined with prior duties = 54% effective rate

Apr 4, 2025

🇨🇳 China — 34% Counter-Tariff & TikTok Retaliation
China announces a 34% tariff on all U.S. imports, effective April 10, and freezes TikTok sale negotiations.

Apr 9, 2025

🇺🇸 U.S. — Tariff Jumps to 125%
Another spike: the total U.S. tariff rate on Chinese goods hits 125%.
Also includes expanded sanctions on Chinese tech firms and platforms.

Apr 10, 2025

🇨🇳 China — Tariffs Raised to 84%
China raises its countermeasures, increasing tariffs on U.S. goods to 84%.
Focuses on electronics, agriculture, and automotive parts.

Apr 11, 2025

🇺🇸 U.S. — Final Tariff Increase to 145%
A 20% “fentanyl surcharge” is added, bringing U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%.
Customs enforcement tightened — especially for direct-from-China shipments (e.g., Temu, Shein).
🇨🇳 China — Hits Back at Full Strength
Raises U.S. import duties to 125% and halts exports of rare earth magnets and critical minerals.

Apr 17, 2025

🇨🇳 China — No More Negotiation Games
China publicly declares it will “pay no attention” to Trump’s “tariff numbers game.”
WTO complaint filed.
🇺🇸 U.S. — 245% Cumulative Tariff Confirmed
With all layers combined (reciprocal + fentanyl + 301 + sector-specific), some Chinese imports now face up to 245% in total tariffs.

U.S. Tariff Actions Summary

Tariffs on Chinese Imports: Up to 245%, including:
• 125% reciprocal tariff – response to unfair trade
• 20% fentanyl-linked tariff
• 7.5%–100% additional duties on various goods

Key Changes:
• De Minimis ends May 2 – $800 import exemption scrapped (hits Temu, Shein)
• Sector Tariffs Coming – new duties on electronics, semiconductors, pharma
• Legal Pushback – California sues, citing economic harm

China’s Retaliation Summary

• Tariffs on U.S. goods – up to 125%
• Export bans – critical minerals, rare earths
• WTO complaint – against U.S. tariff actions
• No talks – unless based on "mutual respect"

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SHIPPING NEWS

China’s U.S. Container Bookings Plunge 60% Amid Tariff Fallout

Container shipping between China and the U.S. has experienced a significant downturn, with bookings plummeting by up to 60% in recent weeks. This decline follows the U.S. administration's imposition of steep tariffs on Chinese imports, effectively pricing many exporters out of the American market .

• Booking Declines: Between March 24–31 and April 1–8, 2025, U.S. import bookings from China fell by 64%, and overall U.S. exports decreased by 30%. ​

• Port Activity: The Port of Los Angeles, heavily reliant on Chinese imports, reported a 36% drop in bookings from China during the same period. ​

• Product Categories Affected: Significant declines were observed in sectors such as apparel (down 59%), textiles (down 57%), plastics (down 45.4%), and copper (down 31.1%)

The downturn has led shipping companies to cancel scheduled voyages, a practice known as "blank sailings," due to insufficient demand .

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has highlighted the broader implications of these developments, projecting an 80% reduction in U.S.-China merchandise trade for the year. This sharp decline signals a potential decoupling of the two economies, with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala warning of the risks associated with over-dependence on single trading partners

In response to the escalating trade tensions, Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com has launched a $27 billion fund aimed at promoting domestic sales of export goods. This initiative seeks to mitigate the impact of reduced access to the U.S. market.

As the situation evolves, the global shipping industry faces continued uncertainty, with further disruptions anticipated in the coming months.

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