White House Releases Details Of China Trade Agreement
In a landmark achievement for American workers and industries, the White House on Sunday released the framework of a pivotal trade agreement between the United States and China — a move aimed at correcting decades of lopsided trade policy and protecting U.S. sovereignty in global markets.
The deal follows President Donald Trump’s hardline approach to confronting China’s long-standing trade abuses, including the imposition of targeted tariffs that forced Beijing back to the negotiating table.
“Today, on the heels of the brand-new deal with the United Kingdom, President Donald J. Trump reached an agreement with China to reduce China’s tariffs and eliminate retaliation, retain a U.S. baseline tariff on China, and set a path for future discussions to open market access for American exports,” read a White House fact sheet detailing the outcome of two days of high-stakes negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland.
“For too long, unfair trade practices and America’s massive trade deficit with China have fueled the offshoring of American jobs and the decline of our manufacturing sector,” the document added. “In reaching an agreement, the United States and China will each lower tariffs by 115% while retaining an additional 10% tariff. Other U.S. measures will remain in place.”
Under the agreement, both nations are set to begin implementing the new terms on Wednesday, May 14. The rollback of retaliatory measures will initially last 90 days — a critical window that has already sparked optimism on Wall Street, where the Dow Jones surged 1,000 points at Monday’s opening bell.
As outlined in the statement, “China will remove the retaliatory tariffs it announced since April 4, 2025, and will also suspend or remove the non-tariff countermeasures taken against the United States since April 2, 2025.” In addition, China will pause its 34% tariff for 90 days, maintaining a 10% baseline during the suspension period.
On the U.S. side, the administration will lift tariffs imposed on China on April 8 and 9, 2025. However, duties placed before April 2 — including Section 301, Section 232, emergency fentanyl-related tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and Most Favored Nation tariffs — will remain in effect. The U.S. will also temporarily suspend its 34% reciprocal tariff.
These measures mark the latest phase in President Trump’s ongoing commitment to reset global trade norms and put American interests first.
Crucially, the deal also includes cooperative measures targeting the fentanyl epidemic, an issue Trump has long emphasized and which prior administrations largely failed to confront. For years, China has faced criticism for supplying the raw chemical ingredients used by drug cartels in Mexico to produce the deadly opioid, which is then smuggled into the U.S.
Future discussions aimed at securing a long-term arrangement are already being planned. “These discussions may be conducted alternately in China and the United States, or a third country upon agreement of the Parties,” said a joint statement from Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. “As required, the two sides may conduct working-level consultations on relevant economic and trade issues.”
Trade Representative Greer emphasized the need for bold leadership in the face of China’s retaliatory measures. “China was assigned a reciprocal tariff rate of 34%,” he stated in Geneva. “China was the only country that chose to implement retaliation against the United States for this reciprocal tariff. All other countries withheld and decided that they wanted to negotiate with the United States or simply not retaliate.”
“The president increased our tariff rates to offset Chinese retaliation,” he added. “And as you know, this escalated to a point where both sides had added 125% tariffs.”
The announcement comes as President Trump gears up for a major diplomatic visit to the Middle East — part of his administration’s ongoing efforts to restore America’s global leadership and strengthen relationships with strategic allies.
“President Trump will return to [the Middle East to] re-emphasize his continued vision for a proud, prosperous and successful Middle East where the United States and Middle Eastern nations are in cooperative relationships and where extremism is defeated in place of commerce and cultural exchanges,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Friday.
“This trip ultimately highlights how we stand on the brink of the golden age for both America and the Middle East, united by a shared vision of stability, opportunity and mutual respect,” she added. “The president greatly looks forward to visiting with our brave men and women in uniform at our U.S. air base in Qatar throughout this trip.”
With another major win on the international stage and a growing economy at home, President Trump continues to chart a course that prioritizes American strength, economic freedom, and global fairness — all while keeping promises that past administrations failed to deliver.