China Extends Tariff Pause but Holds Line on 10% Rate

Key Takeaways: 

• China extended its suspension of the additional 24% US tariff for two months starting Nov. 10, 2026, while keeping the 10% baseline tariff in place.
• China also extended its suspension of special port fees on US-linked ships through Jan. 10, 2027, preserving stability in maritime shipping costs.
• Uncertainty over potential US Section 301 duties leaves the Jan. 10 deadline as the next critical checkpoint for trade policy and supply chain planning.

Shippers moving goods between China and the United States got a short reprieve this week, not a resolution. China’s State Council Customs Tariff Commission announced Monday that it will keep the additional 24% tariff on US imports suspended for two more months, effective 1:01 p.m. Beijing time on Nov. 10, according to Reuters. The 10% baseline tariff remains untouched.

This continues the trade truce struck in Busan, South Korea, in October 2025, not a new deal. Presidents Trump and Xi agreed in September at a Washington summit to extend the arrangement through Jan. 10, 2027, and Monday’s announcement formally implements that understanding, China’s commission said.

The Details That Matter

The suspended portion is the additional 24% tariff, but the 10% rate still applies to Chinese imports into the United States. That ongoing charge still factors into sourcing decisions and landed costs, even with the larger tariff on hold.

The relief goes beyond goods tariffs. China’s transport ministry extended its suspension of special port fees on US-linked vessels through Jan. 10, 2027. The United States has similarly delayed its own Section 301 fee program on Chinese-built and Chinese-operated ships to January 2027. Both sides also extended export control waivers covering certain critical minerals and related technologies through the same date.

A two-month window creates real headaches for supply chain teams. Shipping contracts, customs filings, and inventory commitments often extend well beyond 60 days, so the short runway limits how far businesses can plan with confidence. The 10% tariff that remains in place still shapes pricing and sourcing choices, even as the bigger threat stays paused.

The uncertainty already triggered an early peak shipping season, as shippers rushed orders ahead of approaching deadlines. Ports in China and the Los Angeles and Long Beach complex are reporting record volumes as a result.

What’s Next

China’s commission said it will “closely follow subsequent measures taken by the US side” and adjust its countermeasures “as appropriate.” At issue is the Trump administration’s stated plan to replace tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which the Supreme Court ruled invalid earlier in 2026, with duties under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, according to Bloomberg.

That substitution, if it happens, is likely to reshape the tariff landscape again before the Jan. 10 deadline. Trump and Xi are also expected to meet at the APEC leaders’ summit in Shenzhen later this month, their third meeting this year, which could offer signals about whether the truce holds beyond January. Last week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer spoke with Vice Premier He Lifeng, pressing for concrete action on agricultural purchases, rare earths and other critical minerals.

A Pause, Not a Permanent Fix

This extension buys time for both governments and the businesses caught between them, but it doesn’t settle the underlying dispute. The 10% tariff stays in effect, the Section 301 question remains open, and Jan. 10 is now the date that matters most. Companies exposed to the China-US trade lane should treat the next two months as a planning window and keep a close watch on policy developments as that deadline approaches.