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Tariff timeline: White House actions, declarations, reversals
Given the tariff impact to the retail industry RetailCustomerExperience is keeping a timeline of tariff pronouncements as part of its coverage of how consumers are reacting, what retailers are doing in response and expert insight on the impact to the retail industry.
May 8, 2025 by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com
Since January 2025, when President Trump took office for his second term, it's been much more than a bit of turmoil for the retail industry.
It's been a tidal wave of turmoil and pretty much a boat load of panic given the administration's tariff threats, announcements, declarations and policy decisions.
Given the tariff potential to impact the retail customer experience — from finding needed products on the shelves to online ordering in the e-commerce realm — RetailCustomerExperience crafted a timeline of tariff pronouncements as part of its coverage of how consumers are reacting, what retailers, big and small, are doing in response and expert insight on what retailers should be doing and not doing. It will be updated as tariff decisions hit the headlines.
Jan. 20, 2025
Just hours after being sworn in President Donald Trump declared 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada. Six days later he declared tariffs on goods from Colombia but backed off and put the tariff threat on the shelf.
February 1, 2025
President Trump executed an order for 25% tariffs on most goods from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on China. China immediately responded with a threat about countermeasures.
February 3
President Trump put a 30-day pause on those initial tariffs for Mexico and Canada but mentioned tariffs against Europe. A day later the China 10% tariff went into effect and China responded with tariff declarations of its own. Less than two weeks later came a tariff plan for trading partners and tariffs against foreign cars.
March 4, 2025
The Mexico, Canada and China tariffs went into effect and a day later President Trump paused the automobile tariff and two days later the Mexico and Canada tariffs were put on suspension. Reciprocal tariffs for U.S. trading partners remained in play.
China, on March 10, imposed tariffs on U.S. farm products and Ontario Canada announced a 25% surcharge on electricity for three U.S. states.
April 2, 2025
President Trump had applied a 10% tariff to all nations importing into the U.S. China responded with a 34% tariff on U.S. imports and Vietnam was quickly asking the U.S. for a reprieve on a 46% export tariff.
April 9, 2025
At this point, China goods had a 104% tariff, European goods had a 20% import tax, and there was a 24% tariff tax for Japan. China then enacted an additional 50% tariff on U.S. goods and the European Union enacted new tariffs for the U.S.
President Trump reversed course, putting tariffs on hold for three months and announcing a universal 10% tariff that didn't include China. He instead raised the China tariff by 125% for a total tariff of 145%. China then responded with a 125% tariff on U.S. goods.
April 23, 2025
A dozen states sued Trump over the tariffs contending tariff decisions are in the hands of Congress and want the court to block Trump from enforcing what they termed "unlawful tariffs."
April 29, 2025
President Trump revered course on the automobile tariff plan modifying the initial 25% tariffs. At this point tariffs of 25% on imported vehicles and auto parts remain in place, but automakers will not have to pay tariffs on steel and aluminum on top of the car tariffs.
April 30, 2025
In response to questions at the conclusion of a cabinet meeting President Trump acknowledged the tariff war with China may have an impact on retail shelves. "You know, somebody said, 'Oh, the shelves are going to be open,'" Trump said according to a New York Times report. "Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, you know? And maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally."
May 4, 2025
President Trump also announced a 100% tariff on films produced outside the U.S., according to a report at The Guardian.
In an interview with "Meet the Press," President Trump said he won't take tariffs off the table permanently. "No, I wouldn't do that because if somebody thought they were going to come off the table, why would they build in the United States?" he said.
May 5, 2025
President Trump tells NBC that Chinese imports to the U.S. will eventually be lowered. "At some point, I'm going to lower them because otherwise you could never do business with them," he said in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press with Kristen Welker," taped on May 2. "They want to do business very much … their economy is collapsing."
A New York Times report revealed consumers face an average effective tariff rate of 28%, the highest since 1901. The report cited the Budget Lab at Yale for the figure.
Toy maker Mattel said it would raise prices due to the 145% tariff on China imports from China.
May 8, 2025
President Trump announces a reduction of import taxes on a set number of British cars and allow some steel and aluminum into the country tariff-free. The deal between the U.K. and U.S. leaves a 10% duty in place on most goods from the UK.
May 9, 2025
President Donald Trump indicated he may be willing to lower tariffs on China to 80%. "80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, according to a CNBC report. 'Scott B' refers to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The 80% tariff reflects a big drop from the 145% tariff announced on April 9.
May 12
The United States and China agree to roll back tariffs on each other's goods by 115 percentage points for an initial 90-day period, according to a White House statement. The tariff revisions will be imposed by May 14. President's Trump's 20% fentanyl-related levies on China, imposed in February and March, remain in place. That means the U.S. will temporarily lower its overall tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, while China will cut its levies on American imports from 125% to 10%.
May 17, 2025
President Donald Trump announces trade tariffs are going too slow with 150 countries wanting to make a new deal so he'll give them a few more weeks and then determine new higher tariffs via letters. He said "we'll be very fair," according to a CNN report.
May 23, 2025
President Donald Trump announces his intention to place a 50% tariff on all EU imports to the U.S. starting June 1. In a post on his social network Trump said the decision is due to a stall n his battle to secure concessions from the EU. On April 2 the U.S. imposed a 20% reciprocal rate on most EU goods but that was cut in half a week later with an end date of July 8 for talks to take place.
In the same day Trump said he intends to slap Apple with a 25% tariff for any iPhone sold but not made in the U.S. if the company doesn't start moving manufacturing to the U.S. He made the announcement in a post on his social network. "I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone's that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else," he wrote. "If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the US. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
About Judy Mottl
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