US, China agree on deal for tariffs, rare-earth magnets

China’s exports to the US will have a minimum 30% tariff rate, White House officials say

In April, the Trump administration hit Chinese imports with a 145% tariff rate. China retaliated by slapping a 125% tariff on U.S. goods. (Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

The U.S. and China have agreed on a trade deal that would reduce tariffs and expedite shipments of rare-earth metals.

United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Friday that U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports will now start at 30%, while China’s duty rate on goods from the U.S. will be at 10%. The 20% fentanyl levy on China will also stay in place.

In April, the Trump administration hit Chinese imports with a 145% tariff rate. China retaliated by slapping a 125% tariff on goods imported from the U.S.

“Now our tariffs are at 30% on them, we’re at 10%,” Bessent said on Fox Business. “We’re collecting a substantial tariff income.”

President Donald Trump announced the agreement with China on Thursday during a news conference that “We just signed with China yesterday,” without further explanation. 

China’s Commerce Ministry confirmed that both nations have reached a framework for a deal in a statement on Friday.

“China will review and approve export applications for controlled items that meet the required criteria, while the United States will lift a series of restrictive measures previously imposed on China,” the country’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement to China Daily News.

U.S. levies on Chinese goods stood at an average of 51.1% for most imports before Thursday’s trade deal was announced, while China’s duties on American products were at 32.6%, according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Bessent also said China has agreed to remove its restrictions on exports of rare-earth metals.

On April 4, China began restricting exports of rare-earth magnets to the U.S., which are used in high-tech products such as computer chips and electric vehicle batteries.

“We have an agreement with them that will make magnets flow to everyone who had received them before on a regular basis,” Bessent said.

Upcoming FreightWaves Events
Fraud & Security

Freight Fraud Symposium

Double brokering. AI deepfakes. Identity theft. Freight fraud is an existential threat to the industry. Get ahead of it.

May 20, 2026
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame • Cleveland, OH
Register Now
AI & Technology

Supply Chain AI Symposium

Past the hype. Join operators, founders, and enterprise leaders figuring out how to deploy AI in supply chain.

July 15, 2026
The Old Post Office • Chicago, IL
Register Now
Rail & Policy

Future of Rail Symposium

Reshoring is rewriting freight demand. Join shippers, rail executives, and government officials to shape the next decade.

July 28, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Fraud & Security Freight Fraud Symposium May 20 • Cleveland, OH

Double brokering. AI deepfakes. Identity theft. Freight fraud is an existential threat to the industry. Get ahead of it.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame • Cleveland, OH Register Now
AI & Technology Supply Chain AI Symposium Jul 15 • Chicago, IL

Past the hype. Join operators, founders, and enterprise leaders figuring out how to deploy AI in supply chain.

The Old Post Office • Chicago, IL Register Now
Rail & Policy Future of Rail Symposium Jul 28 • Chattanooga, TN

Reshoring is rewriting freight demand. Join shippers, rail executives, and government officials to shape the next decade.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now

Noi Mahoney

Noi Mahoney is a Texas-based journalist who covers cross-border trade, logistics and supply chains for FreightWaves. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English in 1998. Mahoney has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working for newspapers in Maryland and Texas. Contact nmahoney@freightwaves.com