If you’ve walked into a big-box store lately and felt like your wallet was being held hostage, you aren't alone. Prices for everything from beer cans to high-end refrigerators have been doing some weird things.
Most people are asking the same question: when did tariffs go into effect? Honestly, it depends on what you're buying. It wasn't just one single day where a switch was flipped and everything got more expensive. Instead, 2025 has been a rolling series of deadlines, "trand-offs," and midnight executive orders that have kept supply chain managers awake at night.
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The Big Wave: February and March 2025
The year started with a bang. Right after the inauguration, the administration moved fast. On February 1, 2025, a 25% tariff was announced for imports from Canada and Mexico. China got slapped with a 10% baseline at the same time.
It was chaotic.
For a second, it looked like North American trade was going to grind to a halt. But then, on February 3, there was a 30-day "pause" for Canada and Mexico. This sort of back-and-forth became the signature move of the year. While the pause gave some breathing room, the real hammer dropped on March 12, 2025. That’s when the 25% tariffs on imported steel and aluminum finally went live under Section 232.
If you're wondering why a new dishwasher costs 15% more than it did last Christmas, that March date is a big reason why.
Liberation Day and the Global Reciprocal Plan
April 2, 2025, was dubbed "Liberation Day" by the White House. This wasn't just a catchy name; it was the day the "Fair and Reciprocal Plan" was unveiled.
Basically, the President claimed new authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The idea was simple: if you tax our stuff, we tax yours at the exact same rate.
This move sent the average effective tariff rate screaming upward. We went from about 2.5% at the end of 2024 to nearly 27% by the time the April announcements settled. That is the highest level we've seen in the United States in over a century. You'd have to go back to the 1930s to find anything similar.
Wait, it gets more specific. On April 8, 2025, an executive order spiked China-specific tariffs from 34% to a staggering 84%. By the next day, once the "reciprocal" math was finished, some Chinese goods were facing a total duty of 104%.
The Summer Escalation and the "Beer Can" Expansion
By the time everyone was firing up their grills for the summer, the trade war had expanded into weirdly specific niches. On June 4, 2025, the steel and aluminum tariffs were doubled to 50%.
A week later, on June 12, the administration expanded the list to include household appliances. This wasn't just raw metal anymore; it was the finished goods sitting in your kitchen.
And then there was the "can" issue. Earlier in April, the administration expanded aluminum tariffs to include empty drink cans and even canned beer. If your favorite six-pack felt a little pricier by July, that’s exactly when the costs started trickling down through the distributors.
Key Dates for Specialized Goods:
- August 1, 2025: A 50% tariff on copper imports took effect. Since we import half of our copper (mostly from Chile), this hit the electronics and construction industries like a ton of bricks.
- August 7, 2025: The broad IEEPA "global" tariffs were finally implemented in their most restrictive form after a brief delay caused by a stock market dip.
- August 29, 2025: The "de minimis" loophole was effectively killed. Previously, you could order something under $800 from a site like Temu or Shein and pay no duty. That ended.
What's Happening Right Now in 2026?
We are currently sitting in the middle of the "Second Tranche" of the 2024-era Section 301 review. On January 1, 2026, another round of specific tariff increases went into effect.
This latest wave hit things like:
- Medical Equipment: Surgical masks and respirators saw their duty jump to 50%.
- Batteries: Lithium-ion batteries (the non-EV kind) are now taxed at 25%.
- Natural Graphite: A 25% tariff kicked in on New Year's Day, which is a big deal for anyone making batteries or lubricants here in the States.
The reality of when did tariffs go into effect is that it's a moving target. We are currently seeing a strange "truce" period with certain partners, but the Supreme Court is also about to weigh in on the Learning Resources v. Trump case. If the Court decides the President overstepped his authority with the IEEPA, we could see a massive rollback.
Actionable Insights for 2026
If you're a business owner or just a concerned consumer, you can't change the laws, but you can change how you plan.
Check your Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes. If you're importing, don't assume the rate you paid in December is the rate you're paying now. January 1 changed the math for hundreds of categories.
Watch the "De Minimis" changes. If you rely on small-parcel imports for your e-commerce business, the August 2025 ruling means those "free" imports are gone. You need to factor in at least a 15-20% buffer for customs entries now.
Diversify away from "High-Target" countries. China remains the biggest target, but the reciprocal tariffs mean countries like Brazil (which saw 50% hits in July) can be volatile.
Lock in domestic contracts. If you use copper or steel, the 50% duties aren't going anywhere soon. Negotiating long-term rates with U.S.-based suppliers—even if their base price is higher—might actually save you money compared to the current 2026 import volatility.
The trade landscape is messy. It's not a single law; it's a calendar of executive orders. Stay updated on the Federal Register, because as we've seen, a single tweet or Truth Social post can change the cost of your inventory overnight.