Trump launched global tariff wars in 2025. Here is a summary of his business actions this year

It has been a rollercoaster of a year for US trade policy.

President Donald Trump launched a barrage of new tariffs in 2025, plunging the United States into trade wars with nearly every country in the world. Volley after volley of threats and steeper import taxes often arrive erratically – with Trump claiming that such levies should have been imposed immediately to close trade imbalances and take back the wealth that was “stolen” from the United States.

But the president also resorted to tariffs amid personal grievances, or in response to political critics. And the on-again, off-again whiplash of duties – and backlash retaliation – have fueled widespread uncertainty for businesses and consumers alike, all while families continue to face rising prices.

Here’s a summary of how Trump’s biggest trade moves have unfolded over the past year, broken down by key months.

January-March

In his first few months back in office, Trump is focusing his new tariffs on America’s three biggest trading partners: Canada, Mexico and China. The on-again, off-again charges and backlash retaliation begin to mount.

Around the world, the United States also increases import taxes on steel and aluminum to 25% — expanding the 2018 import taxes previously imposed by Trump.

April

Trump’s trade wars escalated to new heights in April. The president unveils huge “Liberation Day” tariffs on almost every country in the world – sending the stock market tumbling. And more turmoil follows after he tells investors it’s a “good time to buy” just hours before he postpones dozens of steeper import taxes.

China is the exception. Washington and Beijing negotiate more and more sky high, tit-for-tat levies — reaching 145% and 125%, respectively.

Separately, Trump’s 25% auto tariffs kick in, throwing the industry into uncertainty and bringing more retaliation from trading partners like Canada.

May-July

The Trump administration spent much of the summer bragging about a trade “framework” with countries like China, the United Kingdom and Vietnam. But his administration has sent letters to dozens of other nations promising that increased tariffs are on their way — and notably escalating trade wars with Brazil and India.

Otherwise, Trump continues to expand sector-specific tariffs, hiking taxes on steel and aluminum to 50%.

Meanwhile, a major legal challenge over Trump’s tariffs gains traction. A federal court blocks Trump from imposing some of his biggest levies under an emergency powers law — but an appeals court temporarily halts the order, allowing the collection of fees to continue as the case moves through court.

August

Higher US tariffs on more than 60 countries and the European Union begin. After several delays, most of these rates differ from April’s “Liberation Day” – but separately, Trump increases import taxes on Canada to 35%.

Punitive 50% tariffs on goods from Brazil and India also come into effect, along with a new 50% rate on most imported copper worldwide. And low-value imports entering the United States will lose their duty-free status with the end of the “de minimis” rule.

Separately, the United States extends its trade truce with China. And a US appeals court ruled that Trump went too far in declaring national emergencies to justify his tariffs — but would not lift them entirely, allowing the administration to take its case to the Supreme Court.

September-December

The Trump administration officially takes its tariff fight to the Supreme Court. In the initial oral arguments, the justices seem skeptical about the president’s authority to impose such large levies.

Meanwhile, Trump continues to promise more sectoral tariffs — and 25% taxes on kitchen cabinets and other furniture will go into effect. But other threats are delayed. Amid rising price pressures, the president also reduces or removes a few previous tariffs, notably for items such as beef and fruit. It also suggests that the Americans will receive a dividend of $ 2,000 from the income of new tariffs – but the details are still very scarce.