China Quietly Rolls Back 125% Tariffs on Essential U.S. Imports: Report

China Reportedly Quietly Begins Exempting U.S. Goods From Steep Tariffs

China has quietly begun exempting certain American-made goods from its sweeping 125% tariff rate, according to multiple reports, signaling a strategic retreat in its escalating trade standoff with Washington. Ian Taylor / Unsplash

Report: Semiconductors, Medical Products Among Tariff Exemptions

A Wall Street Journal report published Saturday said that Beijing has opted to exclude U.S. semiconductors, chipmaking equipment, medical products, and aviation parts from the stiff levies it introduced after President Donald Trump imposed a 145% tariff on Chinese imports.

In addition to technology and medical imports, the list reportedly includes industrial chemicals like quartz and ethane, lithography machines, helicopters, and vaccines, according to the Journal. The White House / Wikimedia

Beijing Keeps Exemptions Secret to Avoid Revealing Weakness

One person familiar with the matter told the Journal that Beijing has not formally announced the exemptions out of concern that doing so would expose vulnerabilities in the Chinese economy. runningchild / Unsplash

China Reportedly Prepares Broader Exemption List for American Goods

The Chinese government is also reportedly preparing broader exemptions beyond the initial moves. According to Reuters, a task force within China’s Commerce Ministry is actively compiling a list of U.S. goods eligible for exclusion from tariffs and has invited Chinese companies to submit requests. Markus Winkler / Unsplash

American Chamber of Commerce: China Seeking Irreplaceable U.S. Products

Michael Hart, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, told Reuters that Beijing had asked companies for specifics on U.S.-sourced goods they “cannot find anywhere else.” Kaboompics.com / Pexels

Chinese Media: Tariffs Lifted on Select Semiconductor Imports

Separately, Chinese financial outlet Caijing reported on Friday that tariffs would be lifted on eight U.S. chip and semiconductor-related imports, although duties on memory chips would reportedly remain in place. Businesses that paid duties on now-exempted items between April 10 and April 24 would be eligible to apply for refunds, according to the outlet. Igor Omilaev / Unsplash

Bloomberg: Chinese Companies Circulate Unverified Tariff Exemption Lists

Adding to the flurry of developments, Bloomberg reported that some Chinese companies have circulated alleged tariff-exemption lists, containing import codes for "key chemicals and chip-making components." Reuters also noted that unverified exemption lists shared on Chinese social media referenced as many as 131 product categories.

As of now, neither Chinese commerce nor customs officials have issued formal public confirmation of these exemptions. Venti Views / Unsplash

Trump Expresses Optimism After Talks With Xi Jinping

The broader trade relationship between the United States and China remains strained. Although President Trump said Friday that he had spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping "many times," he declined to offer specifics about the conversations, instead telling reporters he would share more information "at the appropriate time." Officia do Palácio do Planalto / Wikimedia