Trump extends deadline to reinstate China tariffs

August 12, 2025 (MLN): President Donald Trump postponed the reinstatement of high U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods for another 90 days, a White House official told CNBC.

The tariffs were originally set to resume Tuesday but Trump signed an executive order extending the deadline until mid-November.

The delay follows the latest round of talks between U.S. and Chinese trade negotiators held in Stockholm in late July.

Without the extension, U.S. duties on China would have reverted to April levels, when tariff tensions peaked, as CNBC reported.

At that time, the U.S. had imposed blanket tariffs on Chinese imports up to 145%, while China retaliated with duties as high as 125% on U.S. goods.

In May, the two sides agreed to pause most tariffs after negotiations in Geneva.

The U.S. reduced its tariffs to 30%, and China lowered its levies to 10%.

Monday’s extension highlights the unpredictable nature of Trump’s tariff policy, which has frequently shifted with little warning.

Trump has announced steep tariffs on countries or sectors, only to later adjust, delay, or pause them.

For example, the “reciprocal tariffs” introduced in early April were quickly paused and delayed multiple times before being implemented in a modified form last week.

On Sunday, Trump posted on Truth Social that he wanted China to “quickly quadruple” its purchases of U.S. soybeans, calling it a way to “substantially reduce China’s Trade Deficit with the USA.”

Following the post, Chicago soybean prices rose, though it was unclear if China had agreed to increase its soybean imports.

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