US Delays New China Tariffs Ahead of Xi-Trump Summit

The United States is expected to postpone announcing new tariffs on China and other trading partners until after next week’s summit between President Trump and President Xi Jinping, according to people familiar with the matter. The delay could allow tariff threats to remain a bargaining tool during the talks.

Trump has repeatedly used tariff pressure to extract concessions from trading partners in the past. The administration had planned to release a trade report ahead of the meeting recommending a 7.5% tariff on Chinese goods over concerns about excess manufacturing capacity.

Uncertainty Remains Over Final Rates

It’s still unclear whether the eventual tariff level will shift from earlier expectations, which would push duties on Chinese goods back to around 20%, a level Beijing has previously said aligns with the existing trade truce between the two countries.

Weekend Talks Precede Historic Visit

US and Chinese negotiators are scheduled to meet over the weekend to work through potential agreements before Xi’s visit, which would mark his first trip to the US since 2023.

The tariff delay follows a broader investigation launched earlier this year into more than a dozen major trading partners over capacity concerns, which could eventually push rates even higher alongside already-existing duties tied to labor practices.

China Signals It’s Watching Closely

Chinese officials have indicated they could respond if US tariffs exceed levels agreed upon in the current trade truce. A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce said last month that capacity issues should be evaluated fairly and warned against using them as justification for protectionist measures, adding that China would monitor US actions and reserves the right to respond as needed.