Fact Check: U.S. and China Agreed to Suspend Tariffs for 90 Days in Preliminary Trade Deal
What We Know
On May 12, 2025, the United States and China announced a preliminary trade agreement during discussions held in Geneva. This agreement included a commitment from both nations to suspend certain tariffs for an initial period of 90 days. Specifically, the U.S. agreed to suspend 24 percentage points of its additional tariffs on Chinese goods while retaining a baseline tariff of 10% (Joint Statement on U.S.-China Economic and Trade Meeting in Geneva) [source-1]. Similarly, China committed to suspending its 34% tariff on U.S. goods for the same duration, also retaining a 10% tariff during this period (Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Secures a Historic Trade Win for the United States) [source-2].
The agreement aims to facilitate ongoing discussions to address trade imbalances and improve economic relations between the two countries. Both sides expressed the importance of their bilateral economic relationship and the need for continued dialogue to resolve outstanding issues (Joint Statement on U.S.-China Economic and Trade Meeting in Geneva) [source-1].
Analysis
The claim that the U.S. and China agreed to suspend tariffs for 90 days is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The official joint statement released by the U.S. government outlines the specifics of the tariff suspensions, including the percentages and the duration of the agreement (Joint Statement on U.S.-China Economic and Trade Meeting in Geneva) [source-1]. Additionally, the fact sheet from the White House confirms these details, emphasizing the significance of the agreement in the context of U.S.-China trade relations (Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Secures a Historic Trade Win for the United States) [source-2].
Furthermore, recent reports from reputable news outlets, such as CNBC and Reuters, corroborate the details of the agreement, highlighting that both nations are working towards a more comprehensive trade deal while temporarily suspending tariffs (China confirms details of U.S. trade deal) [source-5]; (US says deal with Beijing will expedite rare earth exports) [source-3].
The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is high, as they include official government statements and reputable news organizations known for their journalistic standards. The joint statement and fact sheet are direct communications from the U.S. government, which lends them a high degree of credibility.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that the U.S. and China agreed to suspend tariffs for 90 days in a preliminary trade deal is accurate. Both countries have officially confirmed this agreement through their respective statements, detailing the specific terms and conditions of the tariff suspensions. The evidence from credible sources supports the validity of this claim.
