Core Insights - The article discusses the implications of the ongoing U.S. tariff war, highlighting the potential increase in overall tariff rates and the characteristics of trade agreements, as well as the impacts of existing tariffs on imports and inflation. Group 1: New Tariffs - The new reciprocal tariffs effective from August 7 will impose a minimum of 10% on trade deficit countries and 15% on trade surplus countries [5][19] - The overall U.S. tariff rate may exceed 15%, with estimates suggesting it could rise to 17.1% or even 21.2% if key industry tariffs are implemented [6][22] - The implementation of new tariffs may narrow the tariff rate gap between China and other countries, potentially reducing the risk of export share transfer for China [24] Group 2: Characteristics of Trade Agreements - Direct investment and procurement agreements can lead to lower tariffs and reductions in key industry tariffs, with countries like Japan, the EU, and South Korea benefiting from lower rates [27][29] - Current trade agreements lack formal legal texts, leading to uncertainty regarding their execution and effectiveness [31][32] Group 3: Impact of Existing Tariffs - The increase in tariff rates by 1% has resulted in a 2.8% decline in U.S. import growth, with projections indicating a potential drop to -10.5% in the second half of the year [9][35] - Tariff costs are primarily borne by U.S. importers, with estimates suggesting that 40% to 74% of the tariff price increases have already been reflected in U.S. CPI [10][40] - The surge in imports observed in April appears to have ended, with June showing signs of a demand pullback [11][43] - As of May, approximately 61.4% of Chinese goods still maintain a price advantage despite the tariffs, although this is a decline from 76.1% in 2024 [10][55]

Group 1: Trade Negotiation Progress - The US has reduced tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, with 24% of the tariffs suspended for the first 90 days[2] - After the suspension, the average tariff rate imposed by the US on China will be 51%, which is higher than the average non-MFN (Most Favored Nation) tariff rate of 42%[2][16] - The negotiations indicate a willingness to communicate, moving from an irrational tariff level to a more rational one, suggesting the start of substantive trade discussions[3][18] Group 2: Impact on Trade and Exports - During the 90-day suspension period, China's export growth to the US may decline by 21.6% to 27.6%[4][21] - In April, China's export growth to the US was -21.03%, indicating that further deterioration is unlikely within the year[4][21] - High price elasticity industries, such as optical and medical instruments, are more sensitive to tariff changes, with significant impacts expected from tariff adjustments[5][23] Group 3: Market Sentiment and Future Outlook - The positive outcome of the trade talks is expected to enhance market risk appetite and support domestic economic improvement[6][24] - The Chinese government is adopting a more proactive policy stance, which may lead to accelerated implementation of existing policies in the second quarter[6][24] - Future negotiations may still face uncertainties, reflecting the historical behavior of the Trump administration regarding trade policies[3][26]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent tariff threats from Trump against Mexico, Canada, and China, highlighting the potential impacts on China's exports and GDP, while suggesting that the overall effects remain manageable [1][3]. Group 1: Tariff Impacts - Trump's additional 10% tariffs on China, effective March 4, 2025, are expected to marginally increase the drag on China's exports and GDP, with estimated impacts of approximately 1.8 percentage points on export growth and 0.2 percentage points on GDP for the quarter [3][4]. - Cumulatively, the tariffs imposed on February 4 and March 4 are projected to reduce China's quarterly exports and GDP by 3.3 and 0.36 percentage points, respectively [3][4]. - Labor-intensive industries in China, such as toys, furniture, and apparel, are likely to face significant impacts due to their high exposure to U.S. exports, with export shares to the U.S. reaching 32.7%, 25.0%, and 23.3% respectively [4][3]. Group 2: China's Response - China's countermeasures include imposing tariffs on U.S. agricultural products and placing certain U.S. entities on an unreliable entity list, reflecting an escalation in response to U.S. tariffs [2][4]. - The scale of goods affected by China's tariffs is estimated at $24.02 billion, accounting for 14.7% of total imports from the U.S. in 2024, which is an increase from 11.5% previously [4][2]. Group 3: Market Sentiment - Despite the increase in external disturbances, market participants are expected to show greater tolerance, as Trump's focus remains on domestic policies rather than a direct confrontation with China [5][6]. - The uncertainty surrounding U.S. policies towards China is anticipated to rise in April, which could serve as a test for the restoration of market confidence, although the market has already priced in these expectations [5][6].