Weekly Tariff & Trade Update | Key Moves This Week (Jan 31-Feb 6)

Tariff risk moved this week, but not all of it came from policy.

Here’s what moved this week and why it matters:

→ US + India | Trade Agreement
Reciprocal tariffs reduced, non-tariff barriers targeted, and expanded commitments for US energy, agriculture, and technology exports.

→ US Trade Programs | AGOA + Haiti Extended
Congress passed and President Trump signed extensions preserving duty-free access for apparel and footwear.
Runway secured through Dec 31, 2026…preference risk pushed, not removed.

→ US + China | Presidential Engagement
President Trump and President Xi held a wide-ranging call covering trade, energy, agriculture, and geopolitics. April meetings remain on the calendar.

→ Trans-Pacific | CNY Peak Fails to Materialize
No traditional pre-Lunar New Year freight surge.
Muted demand, softer spot rates, and tariff uncertainty continue to suppress forward bookings according to the JOC.

→ US Supreme Court | IEEPA Tariffs
No ruling yet on IEEPA tariff authority. Existing tariffs remain in force as the Court recesses, with the next opinion window on Feb 20.

Why this matters
Tariff risk is fragmenting…part policy, part demand, part timing.
Teams planning sourcing, pricing, and inventory for 2025–2026 should assume uncertainty persists.