China extends US tariff pause and rare earth waivers to January
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The gist
China extended its pause on 24% tariffs on US imports to January, keeping a 10% blanket tariff.
Washington is pressing Beijing for action on farm purchases and rare earths.
Background
China's State Council tariff commission and transport ministry announced the extensions on Nov 9, days before the US-China tariff truce was set to lapse on Nov 10. The truce was struck in Busan, South Korea, in October 2025, when both sides suspended mutual 24% levies while leaving a 10% rate in place; a September round of talks in Washington extended it to Jan 10. Beijing also extended waivers on rare earth export controls and suspended special port fees on American ships, as U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer pressed Vice Premier He Lifeng for concrete action on agricultural purchases and critical minerals.
How it unfolded
- Nov 6, 2026U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, in a video call with Vice Premier He Lifeng, urged Beijing to fully implement past commitments on agricultural purchases, rare earths and other critical minerals.
- Nov 9, 2026China said it would extend its pause on 24% tariffs on US imports to January, keeping a 10% blanket tariff, effective 1:01 p.m. Beijing time Tuesday.
- Nov 9, 2026China also extended its suspension of special fees on American ships docking at its ports until Jan 10, and extended rare earth export-control waivers by two months.
Key terms
- State Council tariff commission
- A body under China's top administrative organ that handles customs duty and tariff matters.
- rare earths
- A group of 17 soft silvery metals, including the lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium, used in electronics and magnets.
- U.S. Trade Representative
- The cabinet-level official who heads the Office of the US Trade Representative and advises, negotiates, and speaks for the president on trade.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Official
- U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer urged Beijing to take concrete actions to fully implement its past commitments, particularly on agricultural purchases, rare earths and other critical minerals.