If it feels like trade policy has been changing by the week, you’re not wrong. Since taking office in January, President Trump has wasted no time bringing tariffs back to the center of the conversation—this time in a much bigger way.
We’ve seen sweeping new duties on long-standing trade partners, retaliation from around the world, and a wave of uncertainty ripple through the global supply chain. For importers and exporters, it’s been a lot to track—especially with policies being announced, paused, and then re-announced in rapid-fire fashion.
That’s why we’ve put together the below. It’s a clear, month-by-month breakdown of what’s happened so far in 2025—from the first tariff threats to the legal battles now playing out in court. Whether you’re navigating sourcing decisions, explaining costs to customers, or just trying to make sense of the headlines, here’s your go-to resource.
JANUARY 2025
Jan 20 – Trump is sworn in for a second term. In his inaugural speech, he vows to “tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens.” Announces 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting Feb. 1 and teases forthcoming China actions.
Jan 26 – Threatens 25% tariffs on Colombia after it rejects U.S. deportation flights. Colombia initially retaliates but backs down, signaling a quick truce.
FEBRUARY 2025
Feb 1 – Trump signs an executive order:
- 10% tariff on all Chinese imports
- 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada. Invokes a national emergency over immigration and drug trafficking.
Feb 3 – Trump pauses Mexico and Canada tariffs for 30 days in response to concessions on border enforcement.
Feb 4 – 10% tariffs on Chinese goods take effect. China retaliates:
- Tariffs of 15% on U.S. coal and liquified natural gas
- 10% on crude oil, farm machinery, large vehicles
- Antitrust probe into Google
Feb 10 – Trump announces all steel (25%) and aluminum (25%) tariffs to take effect Mar. 12, revoking 2018 exemptions.
Feb 13 – Floats “reciprocal tariffs” that would mirror import taxes of other countries — a significant shift from long-standing U.S. trade norms.
Feb 25 – Orders Commerce Dept. to conduct Section 232 Investigation on imports of copper, scrap copper, and copper derivatives products under national security grounds.
Feb 27 – USTR announced proposed Section 301 actions on China’s maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors.
MARCH 2025
Mar 1 – Orders Commerct Dept. to conduct a Section 232 Investigation on imports of lumber/timber and their derivative products under national security grounds.
Mar 4 –
- 25% tariffs on Canada & Mexico take effect (Canada energy at 10%)
- Chinese tariffs doubled to 20%
- Canada and Mexico pledge retaliation
- China announces 15% tariffs on key U.S. agricultural goods
Mar 5 – Trump grants U.S. automakers a 1-month exemption from new Mexico/Canada tariffs.
Mar 6 – Delays some tariffs on Mexico and Canada for another 30 days; Canada pauses C$125B in retaliatory tariffs.
Mar 10 – China’s 15% tariffs on U.S. ag exports take effect (chicken, pork, soybeans, beef). Goods in transit before Apr 12 are exempt.
Mar 12 – U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs (25%) apply globally.
- EU announces €26B in retaliation on U.S. goods
- Canada preps C$29.8B in new countermeasures, effective Mar. 13
Mar 13 – Trump threatens 200% tariff on EU wine, Champagne, and spirits over planned whiskey duties.
Mar 24 – Announces 25% tariff on all imports from countries buying Venezuelan oil (effective Apr 2).
Mar 26 – Announces 25% tariffs on all auto imports starting Apr 3; auto parts phased in by May 3.
APRIL 2025
Apr 2 – Launches “reciprocal tariffs”:
- 10% minimum tariff on all global imports (Apr 5 start)
- Elevated rates for trade surplus nations:
- China: 34% (on top of existing 20%)
- EU: 20%, South Korea: 25%, Japan: 24%, Taiwan: 32%
- China: 34% (on top of existing 20%)
- USMCA-compliant goods from Canada/Mexico exempted
Apr 3 – Auto tariffs begin. Canada retaliates with 25% tariff on U.S. vehicles.
Apr 4 – China imposes 34% tariff on all U.S. products starting Apr 10; announces rare earth export controls and sanctions on 27 U.S. firms.
Apr 5 – Trump’s 10% global import tariff takes effect.
Apr 9 – Reciprocal tariffs go into effect. Hours later, Trump suspends most of them (90-day pause), except the 10% minimum.
- China excluded: tariffs now at 145% total (including fentanyl-based tariffs)
Apr 10 – EU delays retaliation 90 days, mirroring U.S. suspension to allow negotiations.
Apr 11 – China hikes tariffs on U.S. imports from 84% to 125%. U.S. exempts electronics temporarily.
Apr 14 – Trump suggests a pause on auto tariffs; announces investigations into chips, pharma, and chipmaking tools. Signals future action.
Apr 15 – Orders Commerce Dept. to conduct Section 232 Investigation on imports of critical minerals and derivatives products under national security grounds.
Apr 16 – Orders Commerce Dept. to conduct Section 232 Investigation on imports of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients under national security grounds.
Apr 16 – Orders Commerce Dept. to conduct Section 232 Investigation on imports of semiconductors and semiconductor manufacturing equipment under national security grounds.
Apr 22 – Orders Commerce Dept. to conduct Section 232 Investigation on imports of medium-duty trucks, heavy-duty trucks, and parts under national security grounds.
Apr 29 – Issues partial rollback of auto tariffs:
- Year 1: 3.75% rebate for domestic assembly
- Year 2: 2.5% rebate for fewer foreign parts
MAY 2025
May 1 – Orders Commerce Dept. to conduct Section 232 Investigation on imports of commercial aircraft and jet engines and parts under national security grounds.
May 3 – Final round of auto parts tariffs kicks in.
May 4 – Threatens 100% tariffs on foreign-made films, citing “dying” U.S. movie industry.
May 8 – U.S. & U.K. reach partial trade deal:
- U.K. car tariff cut from 27.5% to 10%
- Increased U.S. beef and ethanol exports
- Steel & aluminum tariffs eliminated
May 12 – U.S. & China agree to a 90-day truce:
- U.S. lowers tariffs on China from 145% → 30%
- China lowers tariffs on U.S. goods from 125% → 10%
May 23 – Trump threatens 25% tariff on Apple unless it moves iPhone manufacturing to U.S.
- Also threatens 50% blanket tariff on EU goods starting June 1
May 25 – EU tariff delayed to July 9 after call with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
May 28 – U.S. Court of International Trade rules Trump exceeded his powers under IEEPA; blocks “Liberation Day” tariffs and earlier China, Mexico, Canada duties.
May 29 – Federal appeals court puts a temporary hold on the ruling, allowing Trump to keep collecting tariffs for now.
JUNE 2025
June 1 – Trump announces the US will double its current tariff rate on steel and aluminum imports to 25%-50 % starting June 4.
Sources: AP, whitehouse.gov