TARIFF RELIEF: Country-Specific Tariffs Paused 90 Days For All Except China
The tariff situation globally continues to change rapidly. Just this afternoon, on April 9, 2025, President Trump announced a relaxing of his sweeping tariff plan.
Background
On Wednesday, April 2, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order imposing “reciprocal tariffs” that touch and concern just about every good imported into the United States. In the beginning, all imported articles were to be subject to a 10% ad valorem duty rate, additional to other duties and taxes. Later, the 10% ad valorem duty rate was scheduled to increase to rates individually calculated for each country. The country-specific rates came into effect this morning, at 12:01 a.m. on April 9, 2025.
New Updates
These heightened rates were short lived, however. President Trump announced via Truth Social that the country-specific tariff rates would be paused for 90 days, and that the 10% rate would apply instead. The President said (Emphasis added):
…Conversely, and based on the fact that more than 75 Countries have called Representatives of the United States, including the Departments of Commerce, Treasury, and the USTR, to negotiate a solution to the subjects being discussed relative to Trade, Trade Barriers, Tariffs, Currency Manipulation, and Non Monetary Tariffs, and that these Countries have not, at my strong suggestion, retaliated in any way, shape, or form against the United States, I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%, also effective immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
There is one major exception to this policy change: China. As we covered previously, China was quick to retaliate to the Reciprocal Tariff with tariffs of its own. This caused the United States to escalate until the tariff on Chinese imports reached 104% this morning. Now it appears that, rather than just being excluded from the relaxing of the Reciprocal Tariffs, the tariff rate on Chinese imports will increase yet again. The President said, in the same Truth Social post:
Based on the lack of respect that China has shown to the World’s Markets, I am hereby raising the Tariff charged to China by the United States of America to 125%, effective immediately. At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the U.S.A., and other Countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable…
Since this writing, an executive order has been signed, confirming the changes announced in the President’s Truth Social post. Country-specific reciprocal tariffs will be suspended until 12:01 a.m. EST on July 9, 2025 and replaced with the 10% ad valorem rate. The China-specific rate remains in effect, and has been raised to 125% (which applies in addition to certain other duties).
As new tariff regulations continue to evolve, navigating these changes requires experienced legal counsel. At Liang + Mooney, PLLC, our seasoned tariff lawyers can answer your questions and concerns with sophisticated legal solutions. If you seek strategic counsel and insight into how these changes could affect your operations, we invite you to contact us to schedule a consultation.