BEIJING — Trade frictions between the world’s top two economies are set to take centre stage next week when US President Donald Trump hosts Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the White House.

Although a shaky truce was reached last October that halted the frenzied escalating tariff battle launched by Trump, a comprehensive and permanent deal has remained elusive.

Here is where things stand ahead of the summit, which is expected to take place on September 24:

Tariffs have represented a major hurdle in the China-US trade relationship since 2018, during Trump’s first term.

In April 2025, the base US tariff rate on Chinese goods reached an eye-watering 145 per cent –  matched by China’s reciprocal levies of 125 per cent – although both sides have since significantly reduced rates.

Tolls are now imposed by both sides in a complex patchwork of sector-specific policies.

The effective tariff rate for imports from China, which balances various duties paid across all items, was 22.8 per cent as of July, the highest among all major US trading partners, according to research organisation the Penn Wharton Budget Model.

Among the highest effective tariff rates for Chinese goods heading to the United States are 40.5 per cent on steel and aluminium, it said.

China still maintains a 10 per cent levy on all US goods, with additional rates applicable in other specific sectors, such as 15 per cent on liquid natural gas.