#USChinaTradeTalks

The trade conversations between the United States and China have been a topic of great relevance since 2018, when then-President Donald Trump began imposing tariffs and other trade barriers with the aim of forcing China to change what the United States considers unfair trade practices and intellectual property theft. This conflict, known as the trade war between the United States and China, has gone through several phases and has evolved over the years.

In January 2020, both nations reached a phase one agreement, but the COVID-19 pandemic and a temporary recession hindered the fulfillment of the established goals, such as China's purchase of an additional $200 billion in imports. By the end of Trump's term, many U.S. media outlets characterized the trade war as a failure for the United States.

The Biden administration maintained the tariffs and added others on Chinese products, such as electric vehicles and solar panels. In 2025, under Trump's second administration, the conflict escalated further, with the United States imposing a 145% tariff on Chinese products and China responding with a 125% tariff on U.S. products. These measures are expected to cause a 0.2% loss in global merchandise trade.

Despite these tensions, both countries have excluded certain items from their tariff lists and continue to seek a resolution to the trade conflict. The relationship between the United States and China is complex and marked by ongoing disputes, but also by the significant economic interconnection that exists between the two nations.