Trump’s 2025 trade war: key moves and reversals

U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a sweeping tariff campaign since returning to office in January, targeting major economies and disrupting global trade flows.

Since his inauguration on 20 January 2025, President Trump has imposed a succession of trade tariffs on countries including China, Mexico, Canada, the European Union and several Asian economies.

The campaign began with a 25 % duty on most imports from Mexico and Canada, and 10 % on Chinese goods, citing the need to curb illegal immigration and fentanyl flows. It quickly escalated to blanket 10 % tariffs on almost all imports and more punitive measures on specific sectors.

By March, steel and aluminium tariffs were raised to 25 %, and car imports were targeted with a further 25 % levy.

Chinese goods faced a peak combined tariff rate of 145 %, after a series of cumulative hikes. Apple Inc was warned of a 25 % tariff on devices made outside the U.S.

Although Trump paused some country-specific tariffs in April after global market turmoil, the baseline 10 % duty remained.

Limited truce deals followed—one with the UK in May and another with China that temporarily eased some duties for 90 days.

In July, Trump expanded the tariff front, announcing levies of up to 40 % on countries aligned with BRICS policies, and targeting Vietnam, Indonesia, and Canada.

A 15 % tariff agreement with Japan spared it from further penalties.

The most recent development came on 27 July, when Washington and Brussels agreed to a trade deal that applies a 15 % duty on most European Union imports.

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