Shipping containers next to a ship at the Port of Tacoma in Tacoma, Washington, on March 27, 2025.
Photographer: David Ryder/BloombergWhat Are the ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs That Trump Paused?
The US president suspended most of the import levies after financial markets plummeted. But tariffs could be revived if nations don’t strike a trade deal with Washington in coming months.
To Donald Trump, any country that sells more to the US than it buys in return is taking America for a ride. With that in mind, the president on April 9 imposed especially punitive levies on goods from about 60 partners that have a trade surplus with the US. Rates for these “reciprocal tariffs” have been customized for each: 125% for China, 46% for Vietnam, and 20% for the European Union.
The move was a dramatic rejoinder to anyone who still doubted Trump’s election promise to overhaul the global trading system, and it sent financial markets into a tailspin. The president noted the turmoil when — on the same day the measures took effect — he paused them for 90 days for imports from every trading partner but China.