Commercial War: 90-Day Truce for US Reciprocal Tariffs, Except for China

After the shock announcement of 2 April confirming the introduction of additional ad valorem tariffs of 10% on all imports into the United States as early as 5 April 2025, the second much feared salve had been activated yesterday. Pursuant to Article 3 of the U.S. Presidential DecreeRegularizing Imports with a Reciprocal Tariff to Correcty Trade Practices that Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade DeficitsThe so-called reciprocal rates began to apply yesterday, Wednesday, 9 April, to a list of countries published inAnnex I Text. At a rate of 20% for European products.

It was not to mention a new turnaround. The US President has in fact announced on social networks thesuspension of the latter measure for 90 daysestimated that more than 75 countries had demonstrated a willingness to negotiate with the United States. This announcement remains, however, without publication of an official decree at the time we write these lines.

Moreover, the10% additional tax imposed on all imports on U.S. soil since April 5remains in force. It's a good idea.surchargeto beadded to customs duties already in force.

Beware of certain products, such as steel and aluminium,and parts thereof, are always covered by special provisions (seeUS tariffs on steel and aluminium: Brussels counterattackandU.S. introduce 25% additional customs duty on imported cars as of April 2).

While Donald Trump has relaxed the measures against many trading partners, there is a different situation for China, which is subject to specific punitive sanctions. On 8 April, the United States announced a significant increase in customs duties on Chinese imports, bringing the rate from 34% to 84%, in addition to the 20% already imposed on Chinese products since 4 March 2025 (cf.United States: import tax avalanche) or a total of104% taxes Additional. China responded by announcing a rate of 84 per cent on U.S. products imported into China as of April 10, 2025 (compared to 34 per cent previously). The escalation does not seem to stop as the US President threatened to raise the Chinese product rate to 125%.

Be careful.to avoid circumvention of China's measures by taking advantage of thede minimis threshold,the decreeAmendment to Reciprocal tariffs and updated duties as applied to low-value imports from the people issued on 8 April 2025, provides for thechange in the exemption for Chinese imports of less than USD 800by consignment from 2 May 2025.

In response to the Washington attacks, the European Union has begun to put in place countermeasures in retaliation for US tariffs of 25% on steel and aluminum since 12 March 2025. The battle plan may be reviewed and corrected. However, the Twenty-Seven seem to be divided on what to do, between negotiations and counter-attacks.