Trump's 54% China Tariffs Settled Into 22% Average Rate as Trade War Reached Stalemate
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 13
Trump's 54% China Tariffs Settled Into 22% Average Rate as Trade War Reached Stalemate
4 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 13
China now faces an average U.S. tariff of about 22%, according to Nomura, far below the much steeper penalties Trump had threatened during his 2025 trade offensive.
Trump first added a 20% tariff in February 2025 over fentanyl flows, then imposed a 34% levy in April on top of broader global tariffs, briefly pushing U.S.-China trade toward a near freeze.
China answered with retaliatory tariffs that peaked at 125%, and officials derided the confrontation as "a joke," underscoring how sharply the standoff escalated before leveling off.
Some first-term Trump duties on steel, aluminum and other sectors still remain, leaving China with a somewhat higher burden than other countries even after the gap narrowed.
As U.S. and Chinese leaders meet this week, the outcome suggests Beijing has at least temporarily blunted Washington's effort to isolate it with uniquely harsh tariffs.
The Supreme Court curbed presidential tariff power. How will the U.S. now wage its economic battles on the world stage?
The trade war shifted supply chains instead of fixing the deficit. Was this an accidental strategic victory for the United States?
China controls rare earths vital for F-35 jets. How can America secure its most critical defense and tech supply chains?