US government may delay new tariffs on China until after Xi meeting

The Trump administration is pressing pause on a fresh round of China tariffs, choosing to keep its cards face down ahead of a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled for September 24, 2026. According to Bloomberg, the tariff announcement was originally expected this week but has been pushed back. The tariff math The anticipated new levy sits at 7.5%, targeting Chinese goods tied to what US officials describe as excess manufacturing capacity. When stacked on top of existing duties, the new tariff would push total US levies on Chinese imports to roughly 20%. The tariffs stem from Section 301 investigations into Chinese industrial overcapacity that the administration launched back in March 2026. Separately, the administration already imposed forced-labor-related tariffs of up to 12.5% on various trading partners in July 2026. Why the delay matters The September 24 summit will mark Xi Jinping’s first state visit to the US since 2023, a gap of three years. The two leaders last met in May 2026, but a formal state visit signals a different level of engagement entirely. The agenda reportedly extends well beyond trade. Discussions are expected to cover the conflict in...