China Imposes 10% Additional Tariff on US Fruits and Nuts

On March 4, 2025, the Customs Tariff Commission of China’s State Council announced additional tariffs on some imported goods originating from the United States. According to the notice, the new tariff policies will take effect on March 10, in line with relevant Chinese laws and regulations and the basic principles of international law.

This decision imposes additional tariffs of 15% on U.S. products such as chicken, wheat, corn and cotton and 10% on U.S. products including sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, seafood, fruits, vegetables and dairy products.

The additional tariffs primarily focus on agricultural products from the United States. China is the largest overseas market for U.S. agricultural goods, accounting for nearly one-fifth of total U.S. agricultural exports. According to data from China Customs, the United States was China’s second-largest agricultural supplier in 2024, with these exports valued at $27.53 billion.

Currently, U.S. fruits approved for import into China include plums, cherries, table grapes, apples, citrus fruits, pears, strawberries, nectarines, avocados and blueberries, all of which will be subject to a 10% additional tariff. The same tariff will also apply to various nuts, such as pecans, almonds, Brazil nuts, walnuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts and peanuts.

Beyond these tariffs, China has implemented additional actions targeting U.S. companies, including placing certain firms on its export control and corporate blacklists, launching investigations into specific U.S. goods, and filing complaints with the World Trade Organization.

On March 4, China’s General Administration of Customs issued an announcement stating that ergot and soybeans treated with seed coating agents had been detected in U.S. soybeans imported into China. To safeguard consumer health and ensure food safety, China has suspended the export qualifications of CHS Inc., Louis Dreyfus Company Grains Merchandising LLC and EGT LLC.

These developments are part of an ongoing escalation in trade tensions between the United States and China, with both countries adopting measures that could have far-reaching consequences for global trade dynamics.

Image: Pixabay

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article.