The United States’ latest tariff policy on Chinese imports in 2025 has sent shockwaves through global supply chains. According to the most recent federal announcement in April, the US government has once again raised import tariffs on selected Chinese products, bringing the cumulative tariff rate to a staggering 104%. The new measures target critical sectors such as electric vehicles, minerals, medical equipment, semiconductors, and key raw materials used in manufacturing.
This round of tariff hikes was implemented under the framework of “protecting key industries and ensuring national security.” However, the impact has been far-reaching
—disrupting Sino-US trade flows, inflating global manufacturing costs, and reshaping cross-border supply chain strategies.
Despite mounting tariff pressure, US demand for Chinese goods remains resilient. Data shows that in Q1 2025, total US imports from China still exceeded $100 billion, with only a limited year-on-year decline
—highlighting China’s irreplaceable position in many global supply chains.
2025 : U.S. trade in goods with China
NOTE: All figures are in millions of U.S. dollars on a nominal basis, not seasonally adjusted unless otherwise specified. Details may not equal totals due to rounding. Table reflects only those months for which there was trade.
| Month | Exports | Imports | Balance |
| January 2025 | 9,901.3 | 41,639.2 | -31,737.8 |
| February 2025 | 10,461.6 | 31,635.4 | -21,173.8 |
| TOTAL 2025 | 20,362.9 | 73,274.5 | -52,911.6 |
Amid these challenges, an increasing number of companies are turning to professional freight forwarders for support
—leveraging their expertise in tariff classification optimization, re-export routing, and multi-country customs declaration strategies to navigate the new wave of trade barriers with greater flexibility.
Timeline: 2025 US Tariff Escalation on Chinese Goods
- February 1: A 10% blanket tariff imposed on all Chinese imports.
- March 3: Tariff rate raised to 20%.
- April 2: An additional 34% hike brings cumulative tariffs to 54%.
- April 9: A further 50% increase raises total tariffs to 104% on Chinese exports, in retaliation to China’s 34% tariff on US goods.
| 2025 | January | The United States has raised tariffs on China’s tungsten products, wafers and polysilicon to 25% and 50% respectively. |
| 2025 | February | The US government has imposed a 10% tariff on all Chinese goods exported to the US, citing issues such as fentanyl. |
| 2025 | March | The United States has again imposed an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods, bringing the cumulative tariff to 20%. |
| 2025 | April | On April 2, President Trump announced an additional 34% tariff on Chinese imports, bringing the total tariff to 54%. On April 9, an extra 50% tariff was imposed on Chinese goods, bringing the total tariff to 104%. |
Broader Trade Landscape
In 2024, total bilateral goods trade between China and the US reached $585 billion, with the US importing $440 billion and exporting $145 billion, resulting in a $295 billion trade deficit—roughly 1% of US GDP.
Since 2016, US trade dependence on China has dropped from 21% to 13% in 2024 due to successive tariff measures and decoupling efforts under both the Trump and Biden administrations As a response to rising tariffs, many Chinese exporters have begun rerouting exports through Southeast Asia, shifting production (e.g., solar panels) to Malaysia and Thailand. However, the US Commerce Department has signaled potential reciprocal tariffs on these rerouted goods, which could raise costs further.
How Will Tariffs Impact US Importers?
- Increased Costs: Higher import duties raise the landed cost of goods, squeezing margins and cash flow.
- Price Pressure: Importers may pass costs onto consumers, reducing purchasing power and demand.
- Supply Chain Diversification: Businesses are shifting sourcing to Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia to avoid Chinese tariffs.
- Margin Compression: Not all cost increases can be passed on, leading to tighter profit margins—especially for low-margin consumer products.
- Strategic Uncertainty: Tariff volatility forces importers to constantly reassess sourcing, pricing, and market strategy.
Therefore, the overall impact of rising tariffs on importers is multifaceted — driving up direct financial burdens while compelling businesses to adjust their supply chains, pricing models, and market strategies in response.
How Freight Forwarders Help Importers Navigate Tariffs？
Professional freight forwarders are increasingly vital in helping importers reduce costs and navigate complex trade regulations. Key strategies include:
- Leveraging Free Trade Agreements (FTAs):
- -FTAs between the US and other countries (e.g., ASEAN nations) can offer reduced or zero tariffs.
- -Freight forwarders help identify FTA-qualified sourcing routes or origin modifications to benefit from lower duty rates.
- Tariff Engineering & Classification Optimization:
- -Proper HS code classification can reduce or avoid tariffs. Misclassified goods often result in higher duties.
- -Expert customs brokers work with importers to ensure compliant, optimized declarations.
- Re-export via Third Countries
- -Some Chinese goods are rerouted through Southeast Asian countries for value-added processing or relabeling.
- -Forwarders assist in legal, compliant re-export strategies through countries like Malaysia, Thailand, or Vietnam to reduce tariff exposure.
- Bonded Warehousing:
- -Goods stored in US bonded warehouses allow importers to delay duty payments until goods are released for sale—improving cash flow and flexibility.
