Tariff Timeline
A chronological look at major tariff developments impacting ecommerce and global trade.
Feb–Mar 2025
Rapid Escalation of Tariff Policy
- February 1, 2025: 10% blanket tariff imposed on all imports from China.
- March 4, 2025: Existing China tariffs increased by an additional 10% while new 25% tariffs were implemented on imports from Canada and Mexico.
- March 12, 2025: Tariffs on steel and aluminum imports increased to 25%.
April 2025
"Liberation Day" and Global Tariff Baseline Introduced
- April 2, 2025: Announced a 10% baseline tariff on all imports from all countries with reciprocal tariffs on countries with the largest United States trade deficits.
- April 9, 2025: The tariff on Chinese imports were raised to 125%. Targeted tariffs on other countries were suspended for 90 days to allow time for officials to negotiate with global trade countries.
May 2025
De Minimis Threshold Changes
- May 2, 2025: De minimis rule ends for China and Hong Kong (no longer duty-free under $800). Informal and formal entry required for all shipments and are subject to MPF (Merchandise Processing Fee). The new formal entry fee will begin at $32.71 while informal fees will begin at $2.62.
US-China Temporary Trade Deal
- May 11, 2025: The United States and China have reached a 90-day trade truce, delivering temporary tariff relief. The United States will reduce the steep tariffs implemented in April on Chinese imports from 145% down to 30%. In tandem, China has agreed to lower tariffs from 125% to 10%.
