Steps in U.S.-China trade conflict

JAN

Jan 22: President Trump announces tariffs of 30% on imported solar panels and 20% on washing machines – mostly from China and South Korea

FEB

MAR

Mar 1: Trump tweets “trade wars are good, and easy to win”

Mar 8: Trump announces 25% tax on steel imports and 10% on aluminium imports. Mexico,
Canada and EU are granted initial exemptions

Mar 23: U.S. prepares sanctions against Beijing for alleged theft of U.S. technology

APR

Apr 2: China announces 15% tariffs on 120 U.S. products such as fruits, nuts, wine and
steel pipes, and 25% duty on U.S. pork and recycled aluminium

Apr 3: U.S. proposes tariffs on $50 billion of China’s exports, including TVs, medical devices, aircraft parts and batteries

Apr 4: China adds tariffs of $50bn worth on U.S. products, including soybeans, cars and chemicals

Apr 5: Trump threatens duties on further $100bn of Chinese products

Apr 17: China announces 178.6% deposits are required on U.S. sorghum grain imports

MAY

May 3-5: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (far left) and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross (left) visit Beijing for talks

May 18: China trade delegation to Washington agrees to end sorghum duty. U.S. rumours
of deal to cut $375.6bn trade deficit with China by $200bn are denied by Beijing

May 31: Commerce Secretary announces tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from EU,
Canada and Mexico to go into effect at midnight

JUN

Jun 5: Mexico announces tit-for-tat tariffs, targeting U.S. goods

Jun 15: U.S. announces tariffs on $34bn of Chinese products starting July 6, and review
of further tariffs on $16bn of products. President Xi Jinping (right) hits back with dollar-for-dollar tariffs

Jun 16: India slaps import tariffs on $240 million of U.S. products, one day after Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu (right) returns from U.S.

Jun 18: Trump threatens to impose 10% tariff on $200bn of Chinese goods and further $200bn if Beijing continues to fights back.
This would impose tariffs on $450bn worth of Chinese goods – nearly as much as U.S. imported from China last year


U.S. imports from China (2017) 	Exports to China
$505.5bn 			$129.9bn


Sources: IHS Markit, The Hindu, U.S. Census Bureau 
Pictures: Associated Press
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