The United States and China have agreed to lower tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods traded between the two countries, following a three-day summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington, D.C. The White House said the reductions apply to what it described as “non-sensitive goods.”
On the American side, exports including agricultural products, fish and seafood, logs and wood products, cosmetics and medical devices will receive favorable tariff treatment in China. U.S. imports of Chinese-made small appliances, toys, holiday decorations and children’s car seats will receive the same preferential status.
A New Trade Body Seals the Agreement
The deal was reached through the U.S.-China Board of Trade, a body first proposed during Trump’s visit to China in May and formally established during Xi’s visit to Washington this week. The board is now the primary channel through which the two countries will negotiate further tariff reductions and resolve other trade disputes, leaving open the possibility of broader agreements in the months ahead.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told CNBC on Friday that “a lot more details” about the agreement would be released on Monday. Greer said the tariff terms were hammered out after weeks of negotiations, and neither country has yet disclosed the final rates or a full list of products that will receive favored treatment. You can follow the Trump-Xi tariff agreement for the latest details as they are released.
A Long Road Back From 145% Tariffs
This agreement marks one of the most significant cooldowns in the trade war Trump launched against China in February 2025, when he imposed a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports, citing Beijing’s alleged role in the fentanyl crisis and illegal immigration. China responded with levies on U.S. coal, liquefied natural gas, crude oil and cars.
Tensions peaked in April 2025, after Trump unveiled his “Liberation Day” reciprocal tariffs, pushing U.S. duties on Chinese goods to 145%. China retaliated with tariffs of up to 125% on American goods. Negotiators from both sides met in Geneva in May 2025 and agreed to a 90-day truce that brought U.S. tariffs down to 30% and China’s to 10%, a pause that was later extended for another 90 days in August.
What Comes Next for U.S.-China Trade
Trump and Xi reached a further tentative agreement during talks in South Korea in October 2025. Under that deal, China agreed to crack down on fentanyl precursors, resume purchases of U.S. soybeans and ease restrictions on rare-earth exports, while the United States agreed to lower tariffs further.
With the Board of Trade now in place, the two governments have a formal mechanism to continue those conversations. Full details of the latest tariff reductions, including specific rates and a complete product list, are expected to be made public early next week.
