China extends suspension of 24% additional tariffs on US goods and port fees on American ships for two months

China on Monday extended the suspension of its additional 24 percent tariff on US imports for another two months while retaining a 10 percent additional levy, and prolonged the pause on special port fees targeting US-linked vessels until January 10, 2027. The moves, announced by the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council and the Ministry of Transport, implement outcomes from the September summit in Washington between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump.

The 24 percent additional tariff suspension takes effect from 1:01 p.m. Beijing time on Tuesday (November 10). A baseline 10 percent additional tariff on US goods remains in place. Separately, the Ministry of Transport confirmed the extension of the suspension of special port fees on US-linked ships and the continued pause of an investigation into the security of shipping, shipbuilding, and related industrial and supply chains through January 10, 2027.

Chinese authorities framed the decisions as steps to honor the “outcomes and consensus” reached at the Washington meeting of the two leaders. “Continued suspension of some additional tariffs on U.S. goods will help ensure a stable and predictable policy environment for ties and promote development of China–U.S. economic and trade relations,” the tariffs commission said.

The extension builds on a trade truce that has been repeatedly prolonged. The original arrangement, rooted in talks in Kuala Lumpur and a leaders’ meeting in Busan, South Korea, in late 2025, saw both sides suspend mutual 24 percent additional tariffs while leaving lower baseline rates in effect. That framework had been set to expire around November 10. At the September 2026 Washington summit—the second major leaders’ meeting of the year—the two sides agreed to push the truce out to early January 2027 to create space for further negotiations.

In the wake of that summit, the two governments also advanced a reciprocal package of tariff reductions covering roughly $60 billion in goods ($30 billion in each direction). The lists included US agricultural products, coal, and other items on the Chinese side, and Chinese consumer goods such as toys, small appliances, and holiday items on the US side. Roughly $17 billion of the potential relief related to US farm goods China had imported in 2024. Those cuts, however, have not yet been finalized or fully implemented.

China’s statement also addressed evolving US tariff authority. Beijing noted that the United States has repeatedly indicated it intends to replace tariffs previously imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)—measures struck down by judicial rulings earlier in 2026—with duties under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. “China will closely follow subsequent measures taken by the US side and will, as appropriate, adjust relevant tariff countermeasures in light of developments,” the commission said.

The port-fee suspension mirrors parallel US actions. Washington had imposed, then suspended, Section 301-related fees and related measures targeting Chinese-built, Chinese-owned, or Chinese-operated vessels and certain port equipment. Both sides’ pauses on these maritime measures form part of the broader effort to reduce friction in shipping and logistics while negotiations continue.

The two-month window keeps open the possibility of further talks before the January 10 deadline. Leaders are expected to meet again at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering in Shenzhen later in November, their third encounter of 2026, with another potential meeting around the G20 in December. Officials on both sides have described the extensions as providing time to pursue a more durable arrangement rather than a series of short-term pauses.

The decisions arrive against a backdrop of multi-year trade tensions that intensified after Trump returned to office, featuring high reciprocal tariffs, export controls, and sector-specific probes. The current truce has reduced immediate escalation risks for businesses on both sides of the Pacific while leaving substantial tariffs and unresolved structural issues in place. Market participants and exporters will be watching closely whether the January deadline produces another extension, concrete progress on the proposed tariff-cut package, or a return to higher barriers.