US and China flags on trade documents representing the trade war

US-China Trade War Key Events Timeline

February to April 2025

Overview

This table summarizes key events and statements related to the US-China trade war, focusing on the period from February 1, 2025, to the start of major tariff actions in April 2025. It expands the original table to include additional significant developments, capturing the escalation of tariffs and diplomatic rhetoric during this critical phase of the trade conflict.

US Actions

China Actions

Historical Context: Before February 2025

The February 2025 reignition of the US-China trade war follows a complex history of economic tensions between the world's two largest economies:

First Trump Administration (2018-2021): Initial tariffs on solar panels, steel, and aluminum in early 2018 escalated to duties on hundreds of billions in goods. The January 2020 "Phase One" deal required China to purchase $200 billion in additional US goods.
Biden Administration (2021-2025): Maintained most Trump-era tariffs while pursuing a more multilateral approach, focusing on supply chain security and technology competition rather than trade balance concerns.
Trump's Return (January 2025): The second Trump administration immediately signaled a hard-line approach to China, culminating in the February 1, 2025, announcement of new tariffs, triggering the current escalation cycle.

The 2025 trade conflict is distinct from earlier tensions due to its unprecedented tariff rates, broader global economic implications, and the context of increasing geopolitical tensions over Taiwan, technology access, and regional security.

US-China trade import and export flow visualization

Tariff Escalation Visualization

The chart below illustrates the rapid escalation of tariffs between the US and China from January to April 2025, showing the dramatic increase in average tariff rates on imported goods.

Source: RiskWhale analysis based on official tariff announcements. Rates shown are weighted averages across affected product categories.

Timeline of Key Events and Statements

Date	Actor	Statement/Action	Source
February 1, 2025	US (Donald Trump)	Increased tariffs on Chinese goods by 10%, marking the start of a new trade war phase.	Bloomberg: Trump hits China, Canada, Mexico with tariffs to open trade war
February 4, 2025	China	Retaliated with 15% tariffs on US coal and LNG, 10% on crude oil, agricultural machinery, and large-displacement cars.	AP News: China counters with tariffs on US products
March 3, 2025	US (Donald Trump)	Raised tariffs on Chinese goods by another 10% to 20%, implemented new 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada.	Washington Post: China retaliates against Trump tariffs
March 4, 2025	China	Imposed 15% tariffs on US chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton; 10% on sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, aquatic products, fruits, vegetables, and dairy, effective March 10.	NPR: China slaps extra tariffs on US farm exports
April 2, 2025	US (Donald Trump)	Raised tariffs on Chinese goods by 34%, reaching an effective rate of 54%.	France24: Trump announces 34% tariff on Chinese imports
April 4, 2025	China	Announced 34% tariffs on all US goods, effective April 10, in response to US escalation.	Reuters: China imposes 34% tariffs on all US goods
April 7, 2025	US (Donald Trump)	Threatened a 50% tariff increase on Chinese goods by April 9 unless China withdrew its 34% tariffs by April 8, potentially boosting the rate to 104%.	Wikipedia: China–United States trade war
April 9, 2025	China	Imposed 84% tariffs on US goods in retaliation; Trump raised tariffs to 125%, later clarified as 145%.	CNBC: China slaps retaliatory tariffs of 84% on US goods
April 11, 2025	China	Increased tariffs on US goods to 125%, effective April 12; US excluded consumer electronics for most countries, retained 20% on Chinese electronics.	ABC News: China increases tariffs on US goods to 125%
April 11, 2025	Xi Jinping	Stated China is "not afraid" of the trade war, emphasizing no winners in tariff wars.	CNN: Xi says China not afraid as Beijing raises tariffs
April 16, 2025	China	Appointed new trade negotiator, Li Chenggang, amid the escalating tariff war.	Reuters: China unexpectedly anoints new trade negotiator
April 17, 2025	US (Donald Trump)	Expected a trade deal within three to four weeks, but provided no specifics.	Reuters: Trump: We will have a trade deal with China
April 17, 2025	US	Published a fact sheet indicating tariffs on certain Chinese goods reached up to 245%.	Wikipedia: China–United States trade war
April 21, 2025	China Commerce Ministry	Warned against deals with the US at China's expense, promised countermeasures.	Reuters: China warns against deals at its expense
April 22, 2025	US (Donald Trump)	Planned to be "very nice" to China, suggesting tariffs could drop if a deal is reached.	Bloomberg: Trump floats cutting China tariffs in trade deal

Key Figure: Donald Trump and The Art of the Deal

Donald Trump

Donald Trump's negotiation approach, famously outlined in his book 'The Art of the Deal,' provides insight into his handling of the 2025 US-China trade conflict. His aggressive escalation of tariffs and public confidence about securing a deal within weeks reflect core principles from his business playbook.

Trump's negotiation style emphasizes bold moves, psychological tactics, and leveraging power imbalances. In the trade war context, his approach is characterized by extreme opening positions (145% tariffs), creating urgency through deadlines, and a willingness to walk away from negotiations.

Key Negotiation Principles

Think Big: Set ambitious goals to push harder and achieve more
Use Leverage Aggressively: Identify and exploit strengths to pressure the other party
Be Willing to Walk Away: Signal confidence by showing you're not desperate
Create a Sense of Urgency: Use time pressure to force quick decisions

Practical Tactics

Start with an Extreme Offer: Anchor negotiations in your favor
Control the Narrative: Frame the deal to your advantage
Publicity as a Weapon: Use media to pressure opponents
Fight for Every Inch: Negotiate hard on every point

Key Figure: Li Chenggang, China's New Trade Negotiator

Li Chenggang

Li Chenggang is China's newly appointed international trade representative and vice minister of commerce, announced on April 16, 2025, replacing Wang Shouwen. At 58, Li brings extensive experience, having served as China's ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) since 2021 and as an assistant commerce minister during Trump's first administration.

He holds a law degree from Peking University and a master's in law and economics from the University of Hamburg. His appointment comes amid escalating U.S.-China trade tensions, with U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports reaching 145% and China retaliating with 125% tariffs on U.S. goods.

Li's WTO background suggests a strategic shift toward leveraging international frameworks to navigate the trade war. Analysts see his role as critical in potential negotiations to de-escalate tariffs, though no formal talks have started.

Education

Law Degree, Peking University
Master's in Law and Economics, University of Hamburg

Previous Positions

Ambassador to the WTO (2021-2025)
Assistant Commerce Minister (2017-2021)

Economic Impact

The tariff escalations have significantly impacted both economies:

US: Tariffs on Chinese goods averaged 42.1% by April 2025, increasing consumer prices by an estimated $1,300 per household annually (Tax Foundation).
China: Retaliatory tariffs have targeted US agricultural exports, contributing to a 0.2% decline in global merchandise trade (Wikipedia: China–United States trade war).
Global Markets: Stock market volatility was evident, with declines reported on April 7, 2025, due to tariff uncertainty (The New York Times).

Detailed visualization of economic impact of US-China trade war on both economies

Context and Analysis

The expanded timeline captures the rapid escalation of the US-China trade war from February to April 2025, starting with Trump's initial 10% tariff increase on February 1, 2025, and culminating in significant tariff hikes by April 9, 2025, with the US reaching 145% and China 125% on US goods by April 11, 2025.

Key statements, such as Xi Jinping's on April 11, 2025, and Trump's on April 17 and 22, 2025, reflect the ongoing tension and lack of immediate progress toward a resolution.

China's appointment of Li Chenggang as trade negotiator on April 16, 2025, suggests potential preparation for talks, but no concrete negotiations were reported by April 22, 2025. Li's extensive WTO experience signals China's possible strategy to address the conflict through multilateral frameworks.

Implications

The lack of progress in negotiations by April 22, 2025, suggests that the trade war may extend into mid-2025 or beyond. Historical data indicates that US trade deal negotiations typically take 1.5 years from launch to signing (Peterson Institute for International Economics), pointing to a potentially prolonged conflict.

Conclusion

This expanded timeline provides a detailed view of the US-China trade war's progression from February to April 2025, highlighting the rapid tariff escalations and diplomatic statements that have shaped the conflict. The absence of concrete negotiation progress by April 22, 2025, underscores the challenges in reaching a resolution, with significant economic implications for both nations and global markets.

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