The United States and China have announced proposed changes to their tariff regimes following the recent meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. The measures could provide more favorable tariff treatment for selected goods traded between the two countries, but the exact scope, rates and implementation dates have not yet been finalized.
The White House has published a list of Chinese goods that may qualify for reduced tariffs when imported into the U.S. The form of the preferential treatment remains unclear. China has indicated that the products could be subject only to base tariff rates, while the U.S. has suggested that the measure may instead protect the listed goods from potential future tariff increases.
The list also contains product-specific restrictions. In some cases, the relevant HTS codes only qualify when the imported goods match the descriptions specified in the annex. Use of the corresponding tariff code alone would therefore not necessarily be sufficient to qualify for more favorable treatment.
China has published a corresponding list of U.S. goods that may receive reduced tariffs when entering the Chinese market. In addition, both countries have agreed to “operationalize” the U.S.-China Board of Trade, including a framework for monitoring tariffs and proposing future adjustments.
The U.S. and China have also reported an extension of the so-called Busan Agreement from November 10 to January 10, 2027. However, the White House has not yet issued formal confirmation, leaving uncertainty over which provisions remain in force. The previous agreement included measures concerning China’s rare-earth export controls, U.S. Section 301 tariff exclusions and the planned fees affecting Chinese-linked vessels.
For companies moving goods between the two markets, the announcements offer potential tariff relief for selected product groups but do not yet provide a basis for definitive customs planning. Importers, exporters and logistics providers will need to await the final tariff schedules and implementation notices before the impact on individual shipments can be determined.
