The Archive — 2018
2018: the war begins
From memorandum to first shots: Section 301 moved from investigation to statute-book within six months, and by year-end roughly half of all Chinese imports faced a tariff. Yet the ledger barely noticed — imports hit a record $538.5 billion as importers front-ran the lists.
Global Steel and Aluminum Tariffs (§232)
Citing national security under Section 232, the U.S. imposes 25% duties on steel and 10% on aluminum imports from most countries, China included. The measures sit apart from the Section 301 track but harden the tariff architecture of the year.
Presidential Memorandum on China
Following the Section 301 findings, the White House directs USTR to propose tariffs on roughly $50 billion of Chinese goods and to pursue investment restrictions and a WTO case over forced technology transfer. China signals it will "fight to the end" to defend its interests.
Proposed Tariff List Published
USTR publishes a list of 1,333 Chinese products worth about $50 billion annually, proposed at a 25% rate — heavy on aerospace, machinery and information-technology goods rather than consumer items.
China Announces Retaliation
Beijing responds within hours with proposed duties on 106 U.S. products — soybeans, aircraft, automobiles and chemicals among them — targeting politically sensitive U.S. farm and manufacturing states.
List 1 Takes Effect
The first Section 301 tariffs go live: 25% on $34 billion of Chinese goods. Both governments simultaneously file WTO complaints. The trade war, in law and in name, has begun.
List 2 Takes Effect
A second tranche — $16 billion of goods at 25% — takes effect, and China mirrors it dollar-for-dollar.
List 3 Takes Effect at 10%
Tariffs extend to roughly $200 billion of imports — this time including consumer goods — at an initial 10%, with a scheduled rise to 25% on January 1, 2019. About half of all Chinese imports now face some tariff.
Buenos Aires Truce
On the sidelines of the G20 summit, Presidents Trump and Xi agree to a 90-day pause: the U.S. holds the List 3 rate at 10% and postpones List 4, while talks on structural issues continue. Markets rally worldwide.