Trump Pauses ‘Reciprocal Tariffs’ for Most Nations, But Slaps 145% on China: A timeline of events since April 2 announcement

In the aftermath of this week’s tariff whiplash, President Donald Trump is deciding exactly what he wants out of trade talks with as many as 75 nations in the coming weeks. Trump is also figuring out next steps with China. He upped his tariffs on Chinese goods to 145 per cent after China placed retaliatory taxes of 84 per cent on imports from the US. 

While his 90-day pause on other tariffs caused the stock market to rally on Wednesday, countries still face a baseline 10 per cent import tax instead of the higher rates announced on April 2.

Earlier on Wednesday, under growing pressure from a global market in freefall, President Donald Trump abruptly paused most of his sweeping tariff hikes, granting a 90-day reprieve to 57 trading partners. However, China was notably excluded — with the president escalating his economic offensive by raising tariffs on Chinese imports to a staggering 125 per cent.

By early afternoon, Trump took to Truth Social, saying that since more than 75 countries had reached out to the US for trade talks and hadn’t hit back in any major way, he decided to authorise a 90-day pause on tariffs. During this time, he added, a much lower 10 per cent ‘reciprocal tariff’ would apply — effective immediately.

The surprise move followed a tumultuous period of financial losses and investor panic, coming just one day after broad tariffs had taken effect. Within hours of the announcement, global stock markets rebounded.

On the other hand, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said that India is handling the US reciprocal tariff issue wisely, with a focus to increase its trade with the US by two and a half times. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, the Union Minister assured that India is already ahead in this race, and that discussions were making good progress.  
He further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump had decided in February to strengthen bilateral relations.  

Timeline of Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs since liberation day

2 April – Donald Trump’s ‘reciprocal tariffs’ were announced:

This included a 10 per cent baseline tariff on all imports (from 5 April) and higher country-specific rates (from 9 April):

• China: 34 per cent  
• EU: 20 per cent  
• Japan: 24 per cent  
• South Korea: 25 per cent  
• Taiwan: 32 per cent  
• India: 26 per cent  

USMCA-compliant goods from Canada and Mexico remained exempted.

3 April

Auto tariffs went into effect and Canada retaliated with a 25 per cent tariff on US vehicles.

4 April

China announced a 34 per cent tariff on all US imports starting 10 April. It added to the export restrictions on rare earth materials.  
China blacklisted 27 US companies for trade sanctions.

5 April

A 10 per cent blanket tariff on global imports took effect in the US.

9 April

• Higher reciprocal tariffs came into effect — but most were paused for 90 days later in the day after China hit back at Donald Trump’s levies with an 84 per cent duty on US goods. However, the reason Donald Trump gave for pausing the tariffs for 90 days was not the pressure by China but the response by other countries who reached out for talks rather than retaliating.  
• Donald Trump, blaming China for “lack of respect”, increased to 125 per cent the tariffs on Beijing “effective immediately”.  
• China on 9 April slapped 84 per cent total tariffs on US goods starting 10 April. Canada implemented a 25 per cent auto tariff on non-USMCA US imports.  
• In an abrupt reversal, Mr Trump said he would back down on his reciprocal tariffs for the next 90 days, bringing tariff levels to a universal 10 per cent.  
• China would not be included in that pause, he said. Instead, he raised tariffs on its exports to 125 per cent after Beijing announced a new round of retaliation.  
• The White House quickly framed the decision as part of a larger strategic manoeuvre, posting on X: “DO NOT RETALIATE AND YOU WILL BE REWARDED,” alongside footage of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaking to reporters outside the West Wing.

10 April

• Early Thursday, the president clarified that he had raised tariffs on Chinese goods by a total of 145 per cent since taking office.  
• US President Donald Trump on Thursday upped his tariffs on Chinese goods to 145 per cent after China placed retaliatory duties of 84 per cent on imports from the United States.  
• The number, published in a White House memo, comes in addition to a 20 per cent levy put into place earlier this year over China’s role in fentanyl trafficking.
• The European Union’s executive commission said Thursday it will put its retaliation measures against new US tariffs on hold for 90 days to match President Donald Trump’s pause on his sweeping new tariffs and leave room for a negotiated solution.  
• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the commission, which handles trade for the 27 member countries, “took note of the announcement by President Trump.” New tariffs on 20.9 billion euros (USD 23 billion) of US goods will be put on hold for 90 days because “we want to give negotiations a chance,” she said in a statement.