The Trump administration has postponed the announcement of a new 7.5% tariff on Chinese goods. The move is intended to serve as leverage during the upcoming summit between US officials and Chinese President Xi Jinping, which is set for September 24, 2026.
If implemented, the new 7.5% levy will increase total duties on Chinese imports to approximately 20%. These tariffs are a result of Section 301 investigations into Chinese industrial overcapacity, which were initiated by the administration in March 2026.
The summit marks Xi Jinping's first state visit to the US since 2023. The agenda includes discussions on the conflict in Iran, artificial intelligence risks, and US-China competition. Preliminary negotiations were scheduled for the weekend prior to the meeting.
A tariff truce established in late 2025 is scheduled to expire in November 2026. Additionally, the administration previously imposed tariffs of up to 12.5% on various trading partners in July 2026 related to forced labor concerns.
