Explainer | What tariff rate do China’s goods now actually face in the US?

Beijing and Washington have engaged in a rapid tit-for-tat exchange over the past two weeks, with each side raising tariffs on each other’s products again and again as the confrontation between the world’s two largest economies rapidly escalates.

But the latest duties only represent part of the total levies China’s goods now face in the United States. Below is a breakdown of the current tariff burden, and what that means for the future of US-China trade.

What is the current effective tariff rate?

US President Donald Trump has raised tariffs on Chinese imports by a combined 145 per cent since taking office in January.

That includes so-called “reciprocal” duties of 125 per cent, plus two rounds of 10 per cent tariff hikes that were introduced before the current tit-for-tat exchange began – which Washington justified by pointing to China’s supposed role in the fentanyl trade.

But Chinese goods are also subject to tariffs that were introduced before Trump’s second term began. By the Post’s calculation, that brings the total tariff burden to about 156 per cent.

Meanwhile, Beijing has mirrored Washington’s moves, raising duties on US imports by a total of 125 per cent over the past two weeks. That figure does not include any additional tariffs applied before the current trade war began.