ExplainerUS-China trade war: timeline of key dates and events since July 2018

The US-China trade war began in July 2018, eventually leading to tariffs on some US$550 billion of Chinese goods and US$185 billion of US goods

A phase-one trade deal was signed in January 2020, but China bought less than 60 per cent of the US exports it had committed to over the two years of the agreement

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A phase-one trade deal between the two sides was signed in January 2020, but China bought less than 60 per cent of the US exports it had committed to over the two years of the agreement. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 4:03am, 15 May 2022Updated: 1:07pm, 6 Jul 2022

The US-China trade war began in July 2018 under the administration of then-US president Donald Trump, eventually leading to tariffs on about US$550 billion worth of Chinese goods and US$185 billion worth of US goods.

A phase-one trade deal between the two sides was signed in January 2020, but China would go on to buy less than 60 per cent of the US exports that it had committed to over the two years of the agreement.

06/07/2018: US-China trade war begins

US places 25 per cent duties on around US$34 billion worth of imports from China, including cars, hard disks and aircraft parts. China retaliates by imposing a 25 per cent tariff on 545 goods originating from the US worth US$34 billion, including agricultural products, automobiles and aquatic products.

23/08/2018: US imposes 25 per cent tariffs on a further US$16 billion worth of Chinese goods

Washington imposes 25 per cent tariffs on another US$16 billion of Chinese goods, including iron and steel products, electrical machinery, railway products, instruments and apparatus. China responds by applying 25 per cent tariffs on US$16 billion of US goods, including Harley-Davidson motorcycles, bourbon and orange juice.

24/09/2018: US places tariffs on US$200 billion worth of Chinese imports, China responds

US places 10 per cent taxes on US$200 billion of Chinese imports. China responds by placing customs duties on US$60 billion worth of US goods.

01/12/2018: Xi, Trump call a truce in the trade war at the G20 summit

Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump agree to a 90-day trade truce to allow for further talks to address US concerns after China committed to buying a “very substantial” amount of American exports.

10/05/2019: US increases tariffs on US$200 billion worth of Chinese goods

After trade negotiations break down, the US increases tariffs on US$200 billion worth of Chinese goods from 10 per cent to 25 per cent. China responds by announcing that it will increase tariffs on US$60 billion worth of US goods from June 1.