A snapshot of major developments in Trump’s trade war

A snapshot of major developments in Trump’s trade war

US president Donald Trump is pressing on with his tariff blitz almost daily, with the latest duties hitting imported timber, furniture and bathroom fittings.

Switzerland tariff
A file photo of a 3D-printed miniature model of US president Donald Trump, with the word “Tariffs” in the background, illustrating his unprecedented tariff blitz. (Reuters pic)
WASHINGTON:
President Donald Trump’s tariff decisions since he took office in January have shocked financial markets and sent a wave of uncertainty through the global economy.

Here is a timeline of the major developments:

February 1 – Trump orders 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada and 10% on goods from China, demanding the three countries curb the flow of fentanyl and illegal immigrants into the U.S.

February 10 – Trump raises tariffs on steel and aluminium imports to a flat 25%.

March 3 – Trump says 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada will take effect from March 4 and doubles tariffs on all Chinese imports to 20%.

March 26 – Trump unveils a 25% tariff on imported cars and light trucks.

April 2 – Trump announces global tariffs with a baseline of 10% across all imports and significantly higher duties on imports from some countries.

April 9 – Trump pauses most country-specific tariffs that kicked in less than 24 hours earlier. The 10% blanket duty on almost all U.S. imports stays in place.

Trump says he will raise tariffs on Chinese imports to 125% from the 104% level that took effect a day earlier, pushing the extra duties on Chinese goods to 145%.

May 9 – Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announce a limited bilateral trade agreement that leaves in place 10% tariffs on British imports to the U.S..

May 12 – The U.S. and China agree to slash tariffs for 90 days. The U.S. cut the extra tariffs it imposed on Chinese imports to 30%, while China reduce duties on U.S. imports to 10% from 125%.

May 23 – Trump warns Apple AAPL.O it would face a 25% tariff if phones it sold in the U.S. were manufactured outside of the country.

May 29 – A federal appeals court temporarily reinstates the most sweeping of Trump’s tariffs, pausing an earlier lower court’s ruling to consider the government’s appeal.

June 3 – Trump signs an executive proclamation hiking tariffs on steel and aluminium imports to 50%.

July 3 – Trump says the U.S. will place a 20% tariff on many imports from Vietnam, with trans-shipments from third countries through Vietnam facing a 40% levy.

July 7 – Trump says additional higher duties announced previously will kick in on August 1. In letters sent to 14 countries, he says that will include tariffs between 25% and 40%.

July 15 – Trump says the U.S. and Indonesia made a new framework agreementunder which the U.S. will reduce threatened tariffs on Indonesian goods to 19% from 32%.

July 22 – Trump strikes a trade deal with Japan that includes lowering tariffs on auto imports to 15%.

July 30 – The U.S. reaches a deal with South Korea reducing the planned levies on imports to 15%.

July 31 – Trump signs an executive order imposing import tariffs ranging from 10% to 41% on 69 trading partners ahead of the trade deal deadline. He issuesan order increasing the tariff rate on Canadian goods.

August 6 – Trump imposes an additional 25% tariff on goods from India, saying the country directly or indirectly imported Russian oil.

August 7 – Trump’s higher tariffs on imports from dozens of countries kick in, leaving major trade partners like Switzerland, Brazil and India scrambling for a better deal.

August 11 – Trump extends tariff truce with China for another 90 days, withholding imposition of three-digit duties until November 10.

August 21 – The U.S. and EU lock in a framework trade deal that sets duties at 15% on most imports.

September 30 – Trump slaps duties of 10% on imported timber and lumber and 25% on kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and upholstered furniture.

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