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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →On April 2, 2025, the Trump administration announced a 10% baseline tariff and country-specific reciprocal rates of 34% for China and 20% for the European Union. The 54% China figure in the original headline was not China’s April 2 reciprocal rate. These are historical announcement figures, not a current tariff schedule.
What the April 2 announcement said
Executive Order 14257 established the administration’s reciprocal tariff policy under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The White House fact sheet announced a 10% baseline rate and country-specific rates, including 34% for China and 20% for the EU. Those figures describe what the administration announced on April 2, 2025; they do not by themselves establish the duty on a particular shipment or the rate in force now.
The order said the administration was responding to what it characterized as a lack of reciprocity and persistent U.S. goods trade deficits. That was the administration’s stated rationale and legal position, not an independent finding. The order declared a national emergency and provided authority to modify the tariff measures.
Why the headline said 54% for China
The 54% figure does not match the April 2 country-specific reciprocal rate. The Congressional Research Service’s 2025 historical timeline separately records a 54% rate for certain low-value postal shipments from China under a later de minimis action. That figure concerns a particular shipment category and a later point in the policy timeline—not the 34% China rate announced on April 2. Treating the two as interchangeable would confuse both the date and the imports covered.
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How the policy and its status changed
The April announcement was followed by changes during 2025, so its announced rates should not be read as an enduring schedule. The Congressional Research Service timeline is a historical snapshot of those changes, not a current rate lookup.
February 2026: other tariff authorities discussed
In a statement following the Supreme Court decision concerning IEEPA tariffs, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said the administration would immediately impose a temporary 10% surcharge under Section 122, pursue Section 301 investigations, and maintain Section 232 tariffs. Those are measures under authorities distinct from the April reciprocal tariff order. The USTR statement describes the administration’s planned response; it does not establish the current rate for a specific product or shipment.
February 20, 2026: order to end specified IEEPA duties
Executive Order 14389, dated February 20, 2026, directed that additional ad valorem duties imposed under IEEPA—including duties imposed under the April reciprocal tariff order—no longer be in effect and that collection cease as soon as practicable. The order also states that other duties, including Section 232 and Section 301 duties, are unaffected. Its wording sets a direction for collection to end; it does not establish that every implementation step had already been completed by that date.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What this means for an actual import
The April 2025 announcement rates alone cannot tell an importer what duty applies. The relevant answer can depend on the entry date, the product’s tariff classification, country or customs territory, shipment type, applicable exclusions or de minimis treatment, and the legal authority behind any duty. IEEPA reciprocal duties, a Section 122 surcharge, and Section 232 or Section 301 duties are not the same measure.
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- For a shipment-specific decision, verify the current official tariff classification and applicable agency notices rather than relying on a historical announcement or timeline.
- Do not infer a precise import-date rate or a right to a refund from the February 20 order alone.
- If you import commercially, consult current Customs and Border Protection guidance or a qualified customs and trade-compliance professional.
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