The US will delay the announcement of new tariffs—linked to allegations of excess production capacity—until the summit between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump scheduled for next week.
This was reported by informed sources, according to a Bloomberg News article.
The administration had planned to release a trade report on excess capacity prior to the meeting between the two leaders. The report was expected to recommend a 7.5% duty on Chinese goods. The reasons for the delay have not yet been specified.
The final tariff rate may differ from the previously anticipated level. A 7.5% duty would bring Trump's total tariffs on China during his second term to approximately 20%—a level Beijing previously indicated was acceptable within the framework of a trade truce with Washington.
In March, the Trump administration initiated investigations into more than a dozen major trading partners under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, citing concerns over excess capacity. These pending duties, combined with tariffs already imposed over forced labor issues, are expected to ultimately bring rates closer to the country-specific tariffs that the Supreme Court struck down earlier this year.
The Office of the US Trade Representative and the White House did not respond to requests for comment.