Trump Once More Dances To Xi’s Tune, Extended 90-Day Tariff Truce With China

US President Donald Trump has extended a 90-day tariff truce with China, granting Beijing breathing room just weeks after slapping a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods over its purchases of Russian oil, a move critics say highlights Washington’s double standards.

The extension, announced in an executive order late Monday (11 August), pushes the deadline for renewed tariff hikes to 10 November. Trump cited China’s “significant steps” towards addressing US concerns over trade reciprocity and national security, though the current 10 per cent tariff on Chinese imports will remain in place.

The decision averts an immediate escalation hours before the ceasefire was set to expire, following two weeks of mixed signals from Washington. The extension came after US and Chinese negotiators wrapped up a third round of talks in Stockholm last month, where Beijing agreed to suspend non-tariff countermeasures.

Since then, Washington has steadily raised tariffs on Chinese goods to as much as 145 per cent, while Beijing retaliated with levies of up to 125 per cent and restrictions on strategic raw materials.

Trump’s move stands in contrast to his recent tariff strike on India, effective August 1, over its Russian oil purchases. Vice-President J D Vance has hinted that China could face similar penalties, but there has been no firm timeline.

Business groups welcomed the reprieve, with the US-China Business Council calling it “critical” for giving negotiators time to secure market access gains. Still, analysts say Beijing holds significant leverage through its rare earth exports, and may use the coming months to extract further concessions without major compromises.