China Hits Back with 10-15% Tariffs on Key US Agricultural Exports Amid Trade War Tensions

On March 4, 2025, the Chinese government announced that it will impose tariffs ranging from 10% to 15% on selected U.S. agricultural imports, effective March 10. Detailed in a public notice by the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council, this move comes in response to the U.S. government's earlier decision to levy an additional 10% tariff on all Chinese exports to the U.S. over fentanyl-related concerns—a measure that took effect on the same day.

15% Additional Tariff

This increase targets four categories of U.S. commodities, including chicken, wheat, corn and cotton, covering 29 specific items as listed in Annex 1.

Commodity	Tariff code
Chicken	02071100, 02071200, 02071311, 02071319, 02071321, 02071329, 02071411, 02071419, 02071421, 02071422, 02071429, 16023210, 16023291, 16023292, 16023299
Wheat	10011100, 10011900, 10019100, 10019900, 11010000, 11031100, 11032010
Corn	10051000, 10059000, 11022000, 11031300, 11042300
Cotton	52010000, 52030000

10% Additional Tariff

It applies to eight categories, including sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, seafood, fruits, vegetables and dairy products, covering 711 specific items listed in Annex 2.

Commodity	Tariff code
Sorghum	10071000, 10079000
Soybeans	12019011, 12019019
Pork	2031110, 2031190, 2031200, 2031900, 2032110, 2032190, 2032200, 2032900, 2063000, 2064100, 2064900, 2101110, 2101190, 2101200, 2101900, 16024100, 16024200, 16024910, 16024990
Beef	2011000, 2012000, 2013000, 2021000, 2022000, 2023000, 2061000, 2062100, 2062200, 2062900, 2102000, 16025010, 16025090
Seafood	346 items (from 03011100 to 16056900)
Fruits	128 items (from 08011100 to 20089920)
Vegetables	176 items (from 07011000 to 21032000)
Dairy products	04011000, 04012000, 04014000, 04015000, 04021000, 04022100, 04022900, 04029100, 04029900, 04032010, 04032090, 04039000, 04049000, 04051000, 04052000, 04059000, 04061000, 04062000, 04063000, 04064000, 04069000, 21050000, 35011000, 35019000, 35022000

Exemptions

For U.S. origin imported goods listed in the annex, additional tariffs will be imposed on top of the current applicable tariff rates. The existing bonded, tariff reduction, and exemption policies remain unchanged, and the additional tariffs imposed will not be reduced or exempted.

The commission clarified that U.S. goods leaving the country prior to March 10, 2025, and imported between March 10 and April 12, 2025, will be exempt from these new tariffs.