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Trade War Tensions Temporarily Eased
US President Donald Trump has postponed a scheduled increase in import tariffs on Chinese goods by 90 days, preventing a potential escalation in the ongoing trade conflict between the world's two largest economies. The decision was announced via Trump's Truth Social platform just hours before the deadline that could have raised tariffs significantly beyond the current 30% rate.
Background of the Trade Standoff
This development comes after months of heightened trade tensions where US tariffs on Chinese goods peaked at 145%, while Chinese retaliatory tariffs reached 125% on American products. These extreme measures had raised concerns about a complete breakdown in trade relations. While the EU, Japan and other nations negotiated agreements to avoid the steepest tariffs, China had resisted similar deals until recent months.
Recent Developments and Agreements
In May 2025, both nations agreed to reduce tariffs - the US lowered rates to 30% and China to 10%. This was followed by a June agreement where the US pledged to ease restrictions on computer chip technology and ethane exports, while China promised improved access for American companies seeking rare earth minerals.
Outstanding Issues and Future Negotiations
Despite these concessions, fundamental disagreements remain unresolved. The US continues to criticize China's enforcement of intellectual property rights and state subsidies to Chinese companies, which Washington claims creates unfair global competition. The 90-day extension provides breathing room for negotiations and potentially sets the stage for a summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. American businesses with operations in China have welcomed the delay as they await a more permanent resolution to the trade dispute.
