DELAWARE, Ohio – On Monday, May 13, 2025, the U.S. and China agreed to a 90-day pause on tariffs, providing relief from the trade tensions that have heavily impacted U.S. agriculture since 2018.
The temporary agreement will reduce tariffs by 115% on both sides, providing breathing room for market stability. While the pause is not a permanent solution, it serves as an encouraging sign that meaningful progress toward a more balanced trade relationship may be on the horizon.
“We are encouraged by the news of a 90-day tariff pause between the U.S. and China,” said Tadd Nicholson, Executive Director of Ohio Corn & Wheat. “Trade certainty is essential to the agricultural industry, and we hope this is the beginning of a more productive and balanced trade relationship with China.”
Key Highlights:
- Both countries will reduce tariffs by 115% for the next 90 days.
- S. tariffs on Chinese goods will drop from 145% to 30%.
- Chinese tariffs on U.S. imports, including agricultural products, will fall from 125% to 10%.
- The agreement is temporary and set to expire in 90 days unless extended.
- Negotiations during this window are expected to explore long-term trade solutions.
- China has historically been a major buyer of U.S. corn and wheat.
The announcement follows another positive trade breakthrough between the United States and the United Kingdom on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in which a new agreement was reached to eliminate a 19% tariff and expand U.S. ethanol imports, a move hailed as a win for corn growers and rural economies.
“These moves are a step in the right direction,” Nicholson added. “We hope that it signals a broader shift toward meaningful, long-term trade policy; one that puts American agriculture at the center of the conversation.”
