Honestly, if you're trying to figure out exactly when do tariffs on China start, you aren't alone. It’s a total mess. People are refreshing news feeds, looking at shipping manifests, and trying to guess if their next Amazon order is about to double in price.
The short answer? They’ve already started. But the "big" ones? Those have a timeline that looks more like a moving target than a fixed calendar.
We’ve had waves of these things hitting the docks since early 2025. Right now, as we sit in January 2026, we are living through a "truce" period that most folks didn't see coming. It’s weird. One day there’s a threat of 100% duties, and the next, there’s a signed deal in Seoul or some other far-off city that hits the pause button.
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The 2025 Rollercoaster
Let's look back for a second because context is everything here.
On February 4, 2025, a baseline 10% tariff on basically all Chinese goods kicked in. It was fast. No grace period, no "ships on the water" exceptions for a lot of categories. Then, things got aggressive. By March, that 10% jumped to 20%. By April 2025, the "reciprocal" war was in full swing, and we saw some rates effectively hitting 84% after China retaliated.
It was chaos for supply chain managers. You've probably noticed it in the "sticker shock" at places like Home Depot or when looking at new tech.
The Current Truce: November 10, 2025, and Beyond
Here is where the "when do they start" question gets tricky.
In late October 2025, Presidents Trump and Xi met in South Korea. They hammered out a deal that basically froze the worst of the trade war.
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Effective November 10, 2025, the U.S. actually lowered some rates. Specifically, the "fentanyl-related" tariffs—which were a huge political sticking point—dropped from 20% down to 10%. More importantly, the administration suspended the massive "reciprocal" tariffs (the ones that were threatening to push total duties over 40-50%) for exactly one year.
So, when do the next ones start?
Mark November 10, 2026, on your calendar. That is the current "expiration date" for the truce. If no new deal is reached by then, those suspended reciprocal tariffs—potentially 24% or more on top of existing rates—could snap back into place instantly.
What's Actually Starting in 2026?
Even with a "truce," some things are still moving forward because of older "Section 301" reviews or new national security orders.
- High-Performance Semiconductors: Just a few days ago, on January 15, 2026, a new 25% duty kicked in for advanced AI chips and specific high-bandwidth memory products. This isn't a blanket tariff; it’s targeted at the high-end tech used in data centers.
- The "Legacy" Biden Hikes: Don't forget the stuff scheduled way back in 2024. As of January 1, 2026, we saw permanent magnets, natural graphite, and non-EV lithium-ion batteries hit their new 25% rate.
- Medical Gear: If you're in healthcare, you've likely seen the shift. Medical gloves hit a massive 100% tariff on January 1, 2026. Same goes for certain surgical masks and respirators, which climbed to 50%.
Why the Dates Keep Shifting
The legal side of this is a headache. You have the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) being used one way, and Section 301 being used another.
Courts have been involved, too. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently sitting on a decision regarding whether the executive branch can just "snap" tariffs on and off without a longer notice period. Every time a judge sneezes, a tariff date might move by three months.
Also, "De Minimis" is dead. Or mostly dead. As of August 29, 2025, that $800 loophole where you could get cheap stuff from Temu or Shein duty-free basically vanished for most Chinese imports. Now, those packages are subject to the same 10-20% baseline as everything else.
Actionable Insights for 2026
If you're a business owner or just someone worried about inflation, waiting for a "start date" is the wrong move. The environment is "permanently volatile."
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- Check the HTS Codes: Don't rely on "China tariffs" as a general term. A "semiconductor" might be taxed at 50%, while a "toy" is at 10%. You need the specific Harmonized Tariff Schedule code to know your actual cost.
- Watch the November 10 Deadline: The current peace treaty is a one-year lease. If trade talks sour in the summer of 2026, expect a massive "front-loading" of imports in September and October as companies try to beat the snap-back.
- Audit Your "De Minimis" Shipping: If you were used to shipping direct-to-consumer from China to save on duties, those days are over. You need to factor in an extra 10% to 15% on the landed cost of every small parcel.
- Identify Exemptions: Some exclusions were extended until November 10, 2026, specifically for manufacturing machinery that can't be found outside of China. If you're upgrading a factory, check if your equipment is on that "pardon" list before paying the full duty.
The reality is that tariffs on China don't "start" on one single day anymore. It's a series of layers. Some layers are being peeled back, while others are being glued down tight. Keeping an eye on the November 2026 cliff is the best way to protect your margins for the rest of the year.