US-China Tariffs Hit Historic Highs Before Geneva Reduction
A new Peterson Institute chart reveals that average US tariffs on Chinese exports currently sit at 47.5 percent, covering all goods. The data tracks the rapid escalation and subsequent partial rollback of the ongoing trade war.
A newly updated chart from the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) illustrates the severe escalation of the US-China trade war. It shows that average US tariffs on Chinese exports currently stand at 47.5 percent and cover 100 percent of all imported goods. In return, China maintains average tariffs of 31.9 percent on US exports, also covering all bilateral trade.
The data highlights a dramatic spike in tariff rates early in the second Trump administration. Through a combination of China-specific actions under Section 301 and broader industry tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automobiles, average US tariffs on Chinese imports briefly skyrocket to an unprecedented 127.2 percent in early May 2025.
This extreme peak does not last, as a diplomatic meeting in Geneva prompts both nations to recalibrate their trade barriers. The United States and China agree to reduce their cumulative bilateral tariff increases from April down to a flat 10 percent. Despite this significant reduction, the overall tariff levels remain vastly higher than they were before the recent trade escalations.