[Timeline] From Trump's 2nd Term US-China Tariff War to Beijing Summit

[Timeline] From Trump's 2nd Term US-China Tariff War to Beijing Summit

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a summit in Beijing, China, on the 14th (local time).

The meeting between the two leaders was the first in about six months since their summit in Busan, South Korea, in late October last year, and their meeting in Beijing was the first in nearly nine years since November 8-10, 2017, during Trump's first term.

The leaders of the two countries, who were once sharply opposed, imposing ultra-high tariffs exceeding 100% on each other, discussed bilateral issues such as trade issues, including the "truce" in the tariff war, and China's control of rare earth supply.

In addition, the Taiwan issue and the Korean Peninsula issue were also on the summit table that day, and the Iran war also appears to have been discussed as an agenda item.

The following is a major timeline from the inauguration of the Trump 2nd administration to the US-China summit today.

◇ 2025

▲ January 20 = President Trump inaugurated. Announced 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada from February 1, and mentioned reviewing new tariff imposition plans for China.

▲ February 4 = US, 10% tariff on fentanyl-related products from China takes effect.

▲ February 10 = China imposes 10-15% retaliatory tariffs on US energy and goods.

▲ March 4 = US adds another 10% tariff on fentanyl-related products from China, totaling 20% tariff applied.

▲ March 10 = China imposes 'second retaliatory tariffs' of 10-15% on US agricultural and livestock products.

▲ April 2 = US announces 'reciprocal tariff' plan, publicly stating a 34% tariff rate on China.

▲ April 4 = China announces a 34% retaliatory tariff rate on the US.

▲ April 9 = US announces an increase in reciprocal tariffs to 84%.

▲ April 9 = China announces an increase in retaliatory tariffs to 84%.

▲ April 10 = US recalculates tariffs on China to 125% just 13 hours after reciprocal tariffs began. Total 145% including fentanyl-related tariffs.

▲ April 11 = China increases retaliatory tariffs to 125% (effective April 12).

▲ May 12 = US and China reach 1st trade agreement in Geneva, Switzerland. Agree to reduce respective tariff rates by 115%p. US tariffs on China 145%→30%, China's tariffs on US 125%→10%.

▲ June 10 = US and China reach 2nd trade agreement in London, UK. Agree to lift China's rare earth export controls, etc.

▲ July 29 = US and China reach 3rd trade agreement in Stockholm, Sweden. Tentatively agree to extend 1st and 2nd agreements by 90 days.

▲ September 15 = US and China reach 4th trade agreement in Madrid, Spain. Tentatively agree on a framework related to China's sale of TikTok's US business rights.

▲ October 9 = China announces strengthening export controls on rare earth equipment and technology (effective November 8).

▲ October 10 = US, in response to China's strengthened rare earth export controls, announces additional 100% tariffs on China and warns of export controls on key software (effective November 1).

▲ October 14 = US and China begin imposing port entry fees on each other's ships. China sanctions 5 US subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean.

▲ October 26 = US and Chinese delegations meet for the 5th time in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, agreeing on a framework for a summit.

▲ October 30 = US-China summit held in Busan. US reduces fentanyl tariffs on China by 10 percentage points and extends the suspension of 24% reciprocal tariffs by one year. China extends the suspension of strengthened export controls on rare earth equipment and technology by one year.

▲ November 24 = President Trump announces plans to visit Beijing in April 2026.

▲ December 18 = US approves a $11.154 billion (approx. 16.4 trillion won) arms sale package to Taiwan.

▲ December 26 = China announces sanctions on 20 US defense companies and 10 executives due to arms sales to Taiwan.

◇ 2026

▲ January 12 = President Trump announces '25% tariffs on all countries trading with Iran'.

▲ February 4 = US-China presidential phone call. President Xi tells President Trump to 'be cautious about arms sales to Taiwan'.

▲ March 15 = President Trump demands China's participation in ship escort operations in the Strait of Hormuz, mentioning the possibility of postponing the US-China summit.

▲ March 16 = President Trump officially announces 'request to China to postpone the US-China summit'.

▲ March 25 = US announces new schedule for President Trump's visit to China and US-China summit for May 14-15.

▲ April 15 = US announces 'Operation Economic Fury' against Iran, mentioning the possibility of secondary sanctions on Chinese banks.

▲ April 30 = US and Chinese diplomatic and trade chiefs hold a series of phone calls to coordinate the bilateral summit in advance.

▲ May 1 = US announces sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals for importing Iranian oil products.

▲ May 8 = US announces sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals for supporting Iran's production of weapons and drones.

▲ May 13 = US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng hold a high-level preliminary meeting in Seoul before the US-China summit.

▲ May 14 = President Trump and President Xi hold a summit at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.