It's been a rollercoaster of a year for U.S.tradepolicy.
PresidentDonald Trumplaunched a barrage of newtariffsin 2025, plunging the U.S. into trade wars with nearly every country in the world. Volley after volley of threats and steeper import taxes often arrived erratically — with Trump claiming that such levies needed to be immediately imposed toclose trade imbalancesandtake back wealth that was "stolen"from the U.S.
But the president also turned to tariffs amidpersonal grudges, or in response topolitical critics. And the whiplash of on-again, off-again duties — and responding retaliation — fueled widespread uncertainty for businesses and consumers alike, all whilehouseholds continue to facerising prices.
Here's a summary of how Trump's biggest trade actions unfolded over the last year, broken down by key months.
January-March
In his first few monthsback in office, Trump focuses his new tariffs on America'sthree biggest trading partners: Canada, Mexico and China. On-again,off-againlevies andresponding retaliationbegin to bubble up.
Worldwide, the U.S. also heightens import taxes on steel and aluminumto 25%— expanding Trump'spreviously-imposed2018 import taxes.
Trump's trade wars escalate to new heights in April. The president unveilssweeping "Liberation Day" tariffson almost every country in the world — sending the stock market tumbling. And more turbulence follows after he tells investors that it's a"great time to buy"mere hours beforepostponingdozens of steeper import taxes.
China is the exception. Washington and Beijing trade more and more sky high, tit-for-tat levies — reaching145%and125%, respectively.
Separately, Trump's 25%auto tariffs begin, plunging the industryinto uncertaintyand bringing more retaliation from trading partnerslike Canada.
The Trump administration spends much of the summer boasting about trade"framework" dealswith countries like China, the U.K. and Vietnam. But his administrationsends lettersto dozens of other nations promising that heightened levies are on the way — and notably escalates trade warswith BrazilandIndia.
Otherwise, Trump continues to expand sector-specific tariffs, hiking steel and aluminum taxes to apunishing 50%.
Meanwhile, a key legal challenge over Trump's tariffs gains traction. A federal courtblocksTrump from imposing some of his most sweeping levies underan emergency-powers law— but an appeals courttemporarily haltsthe order, allowing tariff collections to continue as the case wends through court.
Heightened U.S. tariffs on more than 60 countries and the European Unionkick in. After several delays, most of these rates span from April's "Liberation Day" — but separately, Trump hikes import taxeson Canadato 35%.
Punishing 50% levies on goods fromBrazilandIndiaalso take effect, along with a new 50% rate on mostimported copperworldwide. And low-value imports coming into the U.S. lose their duty-free status with theend of the "de minimis" rule.
Separately, the U.S. extendsits trade trucewith China. And aU.S. appeals court rulesthat Trump went too far when he declared national emergencies to justify his tariffs — but doesn't strike them down entirely, allowing the administration to take its case to the Supreme Court.
September-December
The Trump administration officially takes its tariff fightto the Supreme Court. In initial oral arguments, the justicesappear skepticalabout the president's authority to impose such sweeping levies.
Meanwhile, Trump continues to promise more sectoral tariffs — and 25% levies on kitchen cabinets and other furnituretake effect. But other threats get delayed. Amid rising price pressures, the president alsolowersor scraps a few previous tariffs, notably for goodslike beef and fruit. He also suggests that Americans willreceive a $2,000 dividendfrom new tariff revenue — but details remain very scarce.
