Trump’s signature delays a steep tariff hike, giving ecommerce operators 90 more days before the next trade deadline.
Another tariff cliff. Another last-minute Trump save. But don’t get comfortable.
Trump signs executive order hours before tariffs snap back
On August 11, just hours before a punishing tariff truce was set to expire, President Donald Trump signed an executive order extending the U.S.–China tariff pause by 90 days. Without that signature, U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods would’ve rocketed back up to 145%, while China’s retaliatory duties were prepped to hit 125%, pushing both sides toward a full-blown trade embargo.
The new deadline? Mid-November. Operators, mark your calendars: November 9 is your next economic landmine.
This delay was expected following a tense July meeting in Stockholm, but the White House kept everyone guessing until the 11th hour.
The tariff rollercoaster continues
Back in April, Trump maxed out tariffs at 145% as part of a full-frontal trade offensive against Beijing. China hit back with its own 125% tariffs, and global supply chains winced. That tariff war paused in May after talks in Geneva, with both sides dialing back rates: the U.S. dropped to 30% (a 10% base tariff plus 20% “fentanyl” surcharge), and China lowered its duties to 10%.
This week’s executive order simply freezes those May rates in place — for now.
As Kelly Ann Shaw, former White House trade official, put it: “It wouldn’t be a Trump-style negotiation if it didn’t go right down to the wire.”
What ecommerce operators need to know
Here’s what matters right now:
- 🧯 Immediate crisis averted: No return to 145% tariffs… yet.
- 🔄 30% U.S. tariff remains: That includes the controversial “fentanyl” surcharge, which a May 28 court ruling deemed illegal, though it’s still in effect pending appeal.
- 🔍 Talks will continue: Trump’s extension gives negotiators room to build toward a broader deal — potentially tied to Chinese concessions on exports, supply chains, and critical minerals.
- ⏳ New deadline: November 9: The tariff bomb resets then. Start hedging now.
As Ryan Majerus, a former U.S. trade official, told Reuters: “This will undoubtedly lower anxiety… but the extension gives them more time to work through longstanding trade concerns.”
In other words, the drama is far from over.
The Weekly Rundown for Ecommerce Insiders
