Latest U.S. Tariff Developments – What You Need to Know

by Scott Frederick | May 14, 2025 | Global Logistics Alerts

Latest U.S. Tariff Developments – What You Need to Know

• U.S.–China Tariff Adjustments (Effective May 14, 2025):

  • A 10% reciprocal duty will apply to most Chinese goods for 90 days.

  • An additional 20% of fentanyl-related duties remain unchanged.

  • De minimis and postal shipments from China will face a 54% duty or a $100 flat rate per shipment, whichever is higher.

  • These new rates replace prior 125%+ tariffs and eliminate the planned $200 postal duty that was set for June 1.

• U.S.–UK Trade Relationship Changes (Effective May 14, 2025):

  • UK imports to the U.S. also move to the 10% universal baseline duty during the pause.

  • First 100,000 UK vehicles/year get the 10% rate; excess units face 25%.

  • U.S. and UK committed to negotiating new terms for steel and aluminum trade (Section 232 duties remain for now).

• Refunds on Past Duties?

  • No refunds are available at this time for duties already paid prior to these changes.

• Concessions from China and the UK:

  • China to mirror the 10% duty reduction on U.S. goods (also for 90 days).

  • China will lift certain non-tariff barriers, including tech restrictions and mineral export bans.

  • The UK will expand duty-free quotas:

    • Beef: The new 13,000 metric ton quota will replace the previous 1,000 metric ton limit.

    • Ethanol: 1.4 billion liters duty-free.

  • Both countries are expediting tariff adjustments through their domestic processes.

• Broader Trade Trend:

  • The 10% baseline tariff aligns with U.S. policy goals set in 2024 and now applies to most trading partners.

  • Higher reciprocal tariffs from earlier this year were paused in April, solidifying the 10% rate as the standard, for now.

  • Future tariff adjustments may still be on the table depending on partners’ trade practices and market access.

As always, Logistics Plus is here to help! When change happens, Logistics Plus delivers!

U.S., China Reach Deal to Roll Back Tariffs After Marathon Talks

by Scott Frederick | May 12, 2025 | Global Logistics Alerts

The U.S. will cut its rate from 145% to 30%, and China will drop from 125% to 10%

The United States and China have agreed to roll back some of the steep tariffs they placed on each other’s goods, giving both sides 90 days to cool tensions and continue negotiations. Under the deal, U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports will drop from 145% to 30%, while China will cut its own tariffs on American goods from 125% to 10%. The change takes effect Wednesday and follows a weekend of intense talks in Geneva between trade officials from both countries.

Read more:
https://www.supplychain247.com/article/united-states-china-tariff-deal-90-days.
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/investors-cheer-us-china-tariff-truce-cautious-over-final-deal-2025-05-12/
https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/12/business/us-china-trade-deal-announcement-intl-hnk
Please note that the article says that the tariffs are going from 145% to 30%. That 145% is two different tariffs. There is no official word as to how that breakdown goes, what happens with 301 tariffs, steel and aluminum, or the time frame. As soon as information is released through official channels, we’ll pass that along and be able to answer questions. As of this time, we don’t have any details to accurately quote tariffs.

Also, the US CBP issued the following helpful fact sheet on May 2nd (which will likely soon be out of date).

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/2025-05/new_tariff_requirements_2025_factsheet_0_2_0.pdf

Trump Announces US-UK Trade Deal with Focus on Steel, Autos and Beef

by Scott Frederick | May 8, 2025 | Global Logistics Alerts

The US-UK agreement is the first deal since Trump imposed sweeping tariffs in April

Read more:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/05/08/us-uk-trade-deal-trump-announces-agreement/83508333007/
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c15ng4g5g0eo

Key aspects of the U.S.-UK trade deal:

Reduced Tariffs:
The deal will cut tariffs on British automobiles from 27.5% to 10%. Tariffs on UK steel and aluminum will be reduced to zero.
Increased Market Access:
The UK will increase market access for American exports, including agricultural products like beef, ethanol, and other farm products.
Pharmaceuticals:
The deal will create a secure pharmaceutical supply chain, with pharmaceuticals potentially being exempt from tariffs between the two countries.
Boeing Aircraft:
The UK is expected to purchase $10 billion worth of U.S.-assembled Boeing aircraft.
Continued Baseline Tariffs:
The 10% baseline tariff imposed by the U.S. on several countries will remain in place.
Focus on specific sectors:
The deal appears to focus on specific sectors like automobiles, steel, aluminum, and pharmaceuticals, rather than a comprehensive trade agreement.
Digital Services Tax:
The UK has not been forced to drop its 2% digital services tax on U.S. tech firms.
Other potential trade deals:
President Trump has also indicated his interest in negotiating a trade deal with the European Union.
The U.S. is also in talks with other leading economies, including India and Japan, but agreements have yet to materialize.
The U.S. has been actively seeking to address trade deficits and has been imposing tariffs on various countries, including China.

Overall, the U.S.-UK trade deal is seen as a step towards restoring some trade relationships and addressing specific concerns, while also keeping the baseline tariff in place for other countries..