Trump signs order extending China tariff truce for 90 days

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an order extending a tariff truce with China by 90 days, a White House official confirmed on Monday, just hours before steep hikes were due to take effect.The move halts a planned increase in U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods from 30% to 145%, and stops Chinese tariffs on U.S. goods from rising from 10% to 125%. The current rates 30% on Chinese goods entering the United States and 10% on U.S. goods entering China will remain in place during the extension,according to information.
Asked earlier on Monday whether he would prolong the lower rates, Trump told reporters, “We’ll see what happens. They’ve been dealing quite nicely. The relationship is very good with President Xi (Jinping) and myself.”The tariff truce began in May after talks in Geneva, where both sides agreed to a 90-day pause to allow further negotiations. The two delegations met again in Stockholm in late July but did not announce a fresh agreement at the time.
Kelly Ann Shaw, a former senior White House trade official now at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, expressed concern that she had expected the extension. “It wouldn’t be a Trump-style negotiation if it didn’t go right down to the wire,” she noted, adding that the pause was aimed at creating space for broader talks covering issues such as soybean sales, export controls, and excess industrial capacity.Ryan Majerus, a former U.S. trade official now at King & Spalding, stated the extension would “undoubtedly lower anxiety on both sides” as work continues on a possible framework deal in the autumn.
While the White House declined to elaborate beyond Trump’s remarks, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed optimism, saying Washington has “the makings of a deal” with China. On Sunday, Trump urged Beijing to quadruple purchases of U.S. soybeans, though analysts questioned the feasibility of that request.In addition, Washington has been pressing China to halt purchases of Russian oil, with Trump warning of potential secondary tariffs if such imports continue.

(Business Correspondent)