Timeline of Trump’s Tariffs The Trump administration implemented a series of tariffs that impacted international trade. Below is a timeline of the most significant events: March 2018: Tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum were announced, affecting several countries, including China and the European Union. July 2018: China responded with tariffs on $34 billion worth of U.S. products, marking the beginning of a trade war. September 2018: Additional tariffs of 10% were imposed on $200 billion in Chinese imports, increasing tensions between the two nations. December 2018: Some tariffs were temporarily suspended following an agreement between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. February 2019: Trade negotiations between the U.S. and China continued, but tariffs remained in place while a deal was sought. May 2019: Trump raised tariffs on Chinese products from 10% to 25% after negotiations failed. August 2019: Additional tariffs of 10% were announced on $300 billion in Chinese products, set to take effect in September. January 2020: The Phase One trade agreement between the U.S. and China was signed, which included commitments for China to purchase agricultural products. These tariffs and trade measures had a significant impact on the global economy and on trade relations between the U.S. and other countries.