Message to the Congress on Modifying Reciprocal Tariff Rates to Reflect Discussions with the People's Republic of China

To the Congress of the United States:

Consistent with applicable law, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby report that I have issued an Executive Order on Modifying Reciprocal Tariff Rates to Reflect Discussions with the People's Republic of China.

In Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025 (Regulating Imports With a Reciprocal Tariff to Rectify Trade Practices that Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits), I declared a national emergency arising from conditions reflected in large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits, and imposed additional ad valorem duties that I deemed necessary and appropriate to deal with that unusual and extraordinary threat, which has its source in whole or substantial part outside the United States, to the national security and economy of the United States. Section 4(b) of Executive Order 14257 provided that "[s]hould any trading partner retaliate against the United States in response to this action through import duties on U.S. exports or other measures, I may further modify the [Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States] to increase or expand in scope the duties imposed under this order to ensure the efficacy of this action."

Since I signed Executive Order 14266 of April 9, 2025 (Modifying Reciprocal Tariff Rates To Reflect Trading Partner Retaliation and Alignment), the United States has entered into discussions with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to address the lack of trade reciprocity in our economic relationship and our resulting national and economic security concerns. Conducting these discussions is a significant step by the PRC toward remedying non-reciprocal trade arrangements and addressing the concerns of the United States relating to economic and national security matters.

As a result of this significant step, pursuant to section 4(c) of Executive Order 14257, this order modifies the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend for a period of 90 days application of the additional ad valorem duties imposed on the PRC listed in Annex I to Executive Order 14257, as amended by Executive Order 14259 of April 8, 2025 (Amendment to Reciprocal Tariffs and Updated Duties as Applied to Low-Value Imports From the People's Republic of China), and Executive Order 14266, and clarified in the Presidential Memorandum of April 11, 2025 (Clarification of Exceptions Under Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025, as Amended), and to instead impose on articles of the PRC an additional ad valorem rate of duty as set forth in the order, pursuant to the terms of, and except as otherwise provided in, Executive Order 14257, as modified by this order.

My Administration will continue to consult with the Congress on our efforts to address extraordinary and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits.

I am enclosing a copy of the Executive Order I have issued.

DONALD J. TRUMP

The White House,

May 19, 2025.