Trump's tariff war with China and the truces that followed

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

23% left · 62% center · 15% right of 254 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 75 stories.

Every storyoldest first

1. January 2025

   Jan 22Trump says he's considering a 10% tariff on China beginning as soon as Feb. 112 articles · 8 independent sources

   1 left, 4 center, 1 right
2. Jan 31– Feb 2Trump tariffs latest: China to file lawsuit for 'wrongful practices of US'18 articles · 7 independent sources

   2 left, 2 center, 3 right

3. February 2025

   Feb 4– 5China counters with tariffs on US products73 articles · 47 independent sources

   9 left, 15 center, 4 right

4. March 2025

   Mar 3– 4China Announces Extra Tariffs on Key U.S. Farm Products18 articles · 15 independent sources

   3 left, 5 center, 0 right
5. Mar 4– 5China issues war warning to US: "Ready to fight till the end"9 articles · 9 independent sources

   3 left, 3 center, 3 right
6. Mar 7China vows to retaliate against US tariffs, accuses of 'arbitrary actions'10 articles · 8 independent sources

   0 left, 5 center, 1 right

7. April 2025

   Apr 3– 8Trump threatens more tariffs on China as global markets shudder over how much pain economy can take55 articles · 34 independent sources

   4 left, 14 center, 7 right
8. Apr 3– 4China imposes a 34% tariff on imports of all US products starting April 1031 articles · 19 independent sources

   1 left, 7 center, 4 right
9. Apr 4– 5Markets plunge with S&P 500 down 6% and Dow down 2,200 after China retaliates against Trump tariffs14 articles · 12 independent sources

   1 left, 6 center, 0 right
10. Apr 4– 9China raising its retaliatory tariff on the US to 84%, up from 34%, effective April 1061 articles · 35 independent sources

    9 left, 16 center, 6 right
11. Apr 7– 9China Restricts Rare Earths Exports, Again5 articles · 4 independent sources

    1 left, 0 center, 3 right
12. Apr 8China threatens to countermeasures after Trump threatens additional 50% tariff9 articles · 6 independent sources

    0 left, 4 center, 1 right
13. Apr 8– 12Trade war between the U.S. and China spirals into uncharted territory53 articles · 23 independent sources

    6 left, 9 center, 4 right
14. Apr 8– 9China says it will 'fight to the end' after Trump threatens to impose still more tariffs53 articles · 29 independent sources

    5 left, 10 center, 4 right
15. Apr 9– 12China Raises tariffs on US imports to 125%, calling Trump’s policies a ‘joke’115 articles · 59 independent sources

    10 left, 26 center, 13 right
16. Apr 11China announces countermeasures by raising tariffs on US goods from 84% to 125%14 articles · 7 independent sources

    1 left, 5 center, 1 right
17. Apr 13China urges Trump to correct mistakes and heed ‘rational voices' on reciprocal tariffs8 articles · 4 independent sources

    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
18. Apr 14– 21U.S.-China trade war threatens to upend not only the American economy but the global order17 articles · 12 independent sources

    1 left, 4 center, 5 right
19. Apr 14China’s Xi says there are no winners in a tariff war as he visits Southeast Asia12 articles · 12 independent sources

    3 left, 1 center, 2 right
20. Apr 15China reportedly orders its airlines to halt Boeing jet deliveries amid US trade war21 articles · 19 independent sources

    2 left, 7 center, 6 right
21. Apr 16China appoints a new trade negotiator during tariff fight with the US12 articles · 7 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
22. Apr 21Beijing Warns Against U.S. Trade Deals That Harm Chinese Interests18 articles · 17 independent sources

    3 left, 3 center, 5 right
23. Apr 22– 23Trump says China tariffs will ‘come down substantially,’ hinting at potential U-turn9 articles · 9 independent sources

    1 left, 3 center, 3 right
24. Apr 22– 23U.S. Treasury secretary says trade war with China is not 'sustainable'21 articles · 18 independent sources

    2 left, 4 center, 5 right
25. Apr 24China says there are no negotiations with the US over tariffs19 articles · 14 independent sources

    2 left, 4 center, 4 right
26. Apr 25China Reportedly Wants To Exempt Some U.S. Items From 125% Tariffs6 articles · 6 independent sources

    0 left, 4 center, 2 right
27. Apr 29– May 2China says it's evaluating the possibility of trade talks with the U.S.26 articles · 14 independent sources

    1 left, 7 center, 2 right

28. May 2025

    May 5– 12China sees the U.S. trade deal as a huge win for Beijing13 articles · 10 independent sources

    6 left, 3 center, 1 right
29. May 6– 12U.S. and China cite progress in trade talks but release few details16 articles · 13 independent sources

    2 left, 5 center, 3 right
30. May 6– 7Top US officials will meet with Chinese delegation in Switzerland in first major talks of trade war20 articles · 20 independent sources

    2 left, 9 center, 2 right
31. May 7– 10US and Chinese officials meet in Geneva to discuss tariffs as the world looks for signs of hope21 articles · 18 independent sources

    4 left, 5 center, 3 right
32. May 9– 13The US and China reached a 90-day trade truce. Now begins the race to import stuff.7 articles · 7 independent sources

    1 left, 4 center, 2 right
33. May 9– 11US and China begin 2nd day of tariff talks. No breakthroughs but Trump touts 'great progress'30 articles · 21 independent sources

    3 left, 8 center, 2 right
34. May 9Chinese exports to US plummeted in April as Trump’s tariffs kicked in5 articles · 5 independent sources

    1 left, 3 center, 0 right
35. May 9Trump floats cutting China tariffs to 80% ahead of meeting as he looks to deescalate trade war53 articles · 35 independent sources

    5 left, 15 center, 7 right
36. May 11Donald Trump hails "total reset" after US-China trade talks7 articles · 7 independent sources

    0 left, 3 center, 3 right
37. May 11– 12Dow jumps 1,079 points and S&P 500 climbs 3.1% following a 90-day truce in the US-China trade war12 articles · 9 independent sources

    2 left, 5 center, 0 right
38. May 11– 12White House announces U.S.-China trade deal, offers few details16 articles · 8 independent sources

    0 left, 4 center, 3 right
39. May 12U.S. and China agree to slash reciprocal tariffs in major step toward easing trade war87 articles · 49 independent sources

    7 left, 24 center, 8 right
40. May 12Stocks soar after U.S. and China agree to temporarily slash tariffs7 articles · 7 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 1 right
41. May 13US to cut ‘de minimis’ tariff on China shipments to 54% from 120%6 articles · 6 independent sources

    0 left, 3 center, 2 right
42. May 30– Jun 5Trump and Xi hold long-awaited trade call28 articles · 27 independent sources

    8 left, 9 center, 4 right
43. May 30U.S.-China talks ‘a bit stalled' and need Trump and Xi to weigh in, Treasury Secretary Bessent says12 articles · 7 independent sources

    0 left, 3 center, 2 right
44. May 30– Jun 2China: US severely violated trade truce34 articles · 22 independent sources

    3 left, 11 center, 4 right

45. June 2025

    Jun 4Trump says ‘extremely hard' to make a deal with China's President Xi Jinping as trade talks stall21 articles · 12 independent sources

    1 left, 7 center, 3 right
46. Jun 6Trump announces U.S.-China trade talks in London next week15 articles · 12 independent sources

    2 left, 6 center, 0 right
47. Jun 7– 10US-China trade talks in London enter their second day38 articles · 24 independent sources

    3 left, 12 center, 7 right
48. Jun 8– 11The U.S. and China have agreed on a framework to resolve their trade disputes30 articles · 26 independent sources

    4 left, 11 center, 3 right
49. Jun 9China says its exports to the US fell 35% in May, as trade talks are due to start in London7 articles · 7 independent sources

    0 left, 2 center, 3 right
50. Jun 10– 12Trump says U.S. trade deal with China is done, after tariff talks in London yield "framework deal"12 articles · 10 independent sources

    2 left, 4 center, 2 right
51. Jun 11– 12Trump says US gets rare earth minerals from China in trade deal, tariffs on Chinese goods go to 55%36 articles · 21 independent sources

    1 left, 10 center, 2 right
52. Jun 27Trump says the U.S. has signed a deal with China on trade, without giving details5 articles · 4 independent sources

    2 left, 0 center, 1 right
53. Jun 27US, China formalize deal on rare earth shipments in trade breakthrough7 articles · 7 independent sources

    0 left, 4 center, 0 right

54. July 2025

    Jul 3U.S. lifts chip software curbs on China in sign of trade truce8 articles · 5 independent sources

    1 left, 4 center, 0 right
55. Jul 27– 30US, China tariff truce holds for now but US says Trump has final say11 articles · 9 independent sources

    5 left, 2 center, 1 right

56. August 2025

    Aug 11– 12US, China extend trade truce another 90 days, easing tension between world's largest economies45 articles · 37 independent sources

    4 left, 13 center, 6 right

57. October 2025

    Oct 9China outlines more controls on exports of rare earths and technology14 articles · 14 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 2 right
58. Oct 10– 12China vows to stand firm against Trump's 100% tariff threat51 articles · 36 independent sources

    3 left, 12 center, 8 right
59. Oct 10Stocks fall as US-China trade war reignites after Trump threatens tariff hike6 articles · 6 independent sources

    1 left, 4 center, 1 right
60. Oct 10China hits US ships with retaliatory port fees before trade talks7 articles · 7 independent sources

    1 left, 3 center, 0 right
61. Oct 10Trump suggests canceling Xi meeting and threatens more tariffs after China restricts key exports22 articles · 21 independent sources

    3 left, 6 center, 5 right
62. Oct 25– 27US and China have reached a framework agreement on trade ahead of Trump-Xi meeting. Here’s what we know26 articles · 24 independent sources

    6 left, 7 center, 6 right
63. Oct 26– 30Trump says China will buy ‘tremendous’ amount of soybeans14 articles · 12 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 6 right
64. Oct 29– 30Trump cuts tariffs on China after meeting Xi in South Korea36 articles · 21 independent sources

    2 left, 7 center, 5 right
65. Oct 31– Nov 1APEC summit to close in South Korea after Trump, Xi agreed on trade truce6 articles · 4 independent sources

    0 left, 2 center, 0 right

66. December 2025

    Dec 8– 10Trump is giving farmers $12B in aid. They’ve been hit hard by his trade war with China - Boston News, Weather, Sports52 articles · 40 independent sources

    5 left, 14 center, 10 right

67. March 2026

    Mar 15U.S.-China trade talks open in Paris, paving the way for Trump-Xi summit6 articles · 6 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 0 right

68. July 2026

    Jul 28China hits back at criticism over excess industrial capacity as more US tariffs loom5 articles · 5 independent sources

    0 left, 1 center, 0 right

69. August 2026

    Aug 13– 14White House says China is dodging billions in U.S. tariffs by rerouting goods through 40 countries37 articles · 28 independent sources

    4 left, 4 center, 3 right
70. Aug 13– 16Trump’s 100% tariff on drones deepens US-China tech decoupling15 articles · 15 independent sources

    2 left, 6 center, 4 right

71. September 2026

    Sep 10China says it hopes to agree with US on tariff reductions 'at an early date'6 articles · 5 independent sources

    1 left, 0 center, 1 right
72. Sep 22– 23China expands export control on drug precursors ahead of Trump-Xi meeting4 articles · 4 independent sources

    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
73. Sep 23– 25U.S. and China Extend Trade Truce16 articles · 15 independent sources

    8 left, 2 center, 3 right
74. Sep 25U.S.-China trade deal details coming Monday, USTR Greer says3 articles · 3 independent sources

    1 left, 0 center, 1 right
75. Sep 25– 29US and China release $60 billion nonsensitive product lists for tariff cuts after Trump-Xi meeting71 articles · 48 independent sources

    10 left, 9 center, 8 right