Trump Weighs 90-Day Tariff Pause on China as Deadline Looms, Potential Market Impact Sparks Global Tension cover art

Trump Weighs 90-Day Tariff Pause on China as Deadline Looms, Potential Market Impact Sparks Global Tension

Trump Weighs 90-Day Tariff Pause on China as Deadline Looms, Potential Market Impact Sparks Global Tension

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 Listeners, here’s what you need to know today. The 90-day pause on higher U.S. tariffs on China expires Tuesday, August 12, and as of this moment there’s no formal word from President Trump on an extension. According to ABC News, the current setup is a 10% baseline tariff on most Chinese imports plus an additional 20% fentanyl-related tariff, with some products facing higher rates, while U.S. exports to China face roughly 30%. ABC News adds that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says Trump is weighing another 90-day delay to finalize a framework that would set most tariffs around 50%, inclusive of fentanyl-related duties.

China Briefing reports that the May truce cut “reciprocal” tariffs from as high as 125% down to 10% for 90 days, but left in place the separate 20% fentanyl tariff and existing Section 301 and MFN duties—meaning the effective minimum rate on many Chinese goods is closer to the mid-50% range when everything is stacked. China Briefing also notes that if no extension is announced, reciprocal tariffs could revert to about 34%, not the prior peak, but when adding the fentanyl tariff and other levies, the effective rate on many items would still land upward of roughly 80%.

ABC News emphasizes that extending the deadline would avert a jump toward previously threatened tariff levels—Trump had floated duties up to 245% on Chinese goods, with Beijing signaling retaliation up to 125%. ABC News also notes U.S.-China negotiators in late July talks in Stockholm signaled optimism about extending the pause, but underscored that the decision rests with Trump. Markets and supply chains are on edge: ABC News warns that a lapse could jolt global markets, push inflation higher, and freeze investment decisions, while a continued pause would give both sides time to refine a deal ahead of a potential Trump–Xi meeting later this year.

China Briefing highlights that the “reciprocal” tariff regime launched in April stacked on top of the fentanyl tariff, producing headline rates far above legacy Section 301 duties until May’s truce pulled the headline reciprocal rate back to 10% temporarily. With the clock ticking, the big watch item for listeners is whether the White House issues a same-day extension to maintain the 10% reciprocal rate—or allows the rate to snap back and pushes effective tariffs significantly higher once combined with fentanyl and existing duties.

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