Tariffs: A timeline of the US-China tussle since Trump’s first term

China is retaliating in a determined and at times highly detailed manner to US President Donald Trump’s new tariffs, led by a retaliatory 34 per cent tax on all US imports next week.

The strong response shows a degree of preparation that leaves Chinese exports in a tough spot but exacts pain from US exporters that could be used as leverage in any future negotiations.

The Chinese tariffs, announced Friday and taking effect Thursday, match the rate of the ones Trump imposed this week on Chinese products flowing into the United States, coming on top of two rounds of 10 per cent tariffs already declared in February and March, citing allegations of Beijing’s role in the fentanyl crisis.

China’s latest retaliatory moves include more export controls on rare earth minerals, critical for various technologies, and a lawsuit at the World Trade Organisation.

Beijing also suspended imports of sorghum, poultry and bonemeal from a number of US companies, and added over two dozen others to a list of trade-restricted companies while launching an anti-monopoly investigation into DuPont China Group Co., a subsidiary of the multinational chemical giant.

The rapid-fire shots of tariffs and import curbs hearken back to Trump’s first term in office when the US and China engaged in a trade war that spanned most of his first four years in office that continued to a certain extent under his successor, Joe Biden.

China responded at the time with 15 per cent duties on coal and liquefied natural gas products, and a 10 per cent tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery and large-engine cars imported from the US.

Beijing also launched last month an anti-monopoly investigation into Google and added PVH, the owner of US fashion brands Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, to its “unreliable entity” list.

China also restricted the exports of five rare metals used as key components in the defence and clean energy industries among others.

As the new frictions threaten to escalate into a trade war, here are some key moments in the countries’ years-long trade spat:

March 2017 Shortly after becoming US president for the first time, Trump, determined to reduce trade deficits with other countries, signs an executive order calling for tighter tariff enforcement in anti-dumping cases.

April 2017 During a visit to Beijing, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agree to a 100-day plan for trade talks meant to reduce the US trade deficit with China. The trade talks fail by July.

August 2017 Trump launches an investigation into alleged Chinese theft of US intellectual property, which the US estimated was costing it up to USD 600 billion a year.

January 2018 The US announces 30 per cent tariffs on imported solar panels, which come mostly from China.

April 2018 Beijing hits back with tariffs on US imports worth about USD 3 billion, including 15 per cent duties on products including fruits, nuts, wine and steel pipes, and a 25 per cent tax on pork, recycled aluminum and six other types of goods.

A day later, the US ups the ante by slapping a 25 per cent tax on Chinese goods from the aerospace, machinery and medical industries worth about USD 50 billion.

China retaliates with 25 per cent duties on aircraft, automobiles, soybeans and chemicals among other imports, worth about another USD 50 billion.

June-August 2018 The two countries impose at least three more rounds of tit-for-tat tariffs affecting more than USD 250 billion worth of Chinese goods and more than USD 110 billion worth of US imports to China.

These include 10 per cent tariffs on USD 200 billion of Chinese goods that take effect in September 2018 and are supposed to increase to 25 per cent on January 1, 2019.

December 2018-May 2019 Washington and Beijing fail to iron out a trade deal after agreeing to halt new tariffs in December 2018.

After the talks collapse, Trump goes ahead and raises tariffs from 10 per cent to 25 per cent on USD 200 billion worth of Chinese goods.

May 2019 Washington bans Chinese technology company Huawei from buying parts and components from US companies.

June 2019 Trump and Xi agree in a phone call to restart trade talks, but these hit numerous snags in the next five months.

January 2020 The US and China sign a Phase One trade deal through which China commits to buying an additional USD 200 billion of US goods and services over the next two years.

However, a research group later found China had bought essentially none of the goods promised.

October 2022 Biden, who had retained most of the tariffs enacted under Trump, issues sweeping new restrictions on selling semiconductors and chipmaking equipment to China. These curbs will be expanded in October 2023 and December 2024.

February 2024 On his campaign trail, Trump says that he plans to impose tariffs of at least 60 per cent on all Chinese imports if he wins a second term in office.

May 2024 Biden raises tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, solar cells, steel, aluminum and medical equipment.

February 4, 2025 New 10 per cent tariffs on all Chinese imports to the US come into effect. China retaliates the same day by announcing a flurry of countermeasures, including duties on American coal, liquefied natural gas and agricultural machinery.

March 4, 2025 Additional 10 per cent tariffs on all Chinese goods will go into effect. China responds with additional tariffs of up to 15 per cent on imports of key US farm products, including chicken, pork, soy and beef, and expanded controls on doing business with key US companies. The tariffs went into effect on March 10.

April 3, 2025 On Trump’s so-called tariff “Liberation Day”, he announces additional 34 per cent duties on all Chinese imports, alongside tariffs on goods from countries around the world. The sweeping tariffs are to come into effect April 9.

April 4, 2025 China announces other retaliatory moves including more export controls on rare earth minerals, and files a lawsuit at the World Trade Organisation.

China also suspends imports of sorghum, poultry and bonemeal from several US companies, adds 27 firms to lists of companies facing trade restrictions, and starts an anti-monopoly probe into DuPont China Group Co.