A chronological record of every significant US tariff action from January 2025 through March 2026. Track how the trade landscape has evolved and what comes next.
2025 marked a fundamental shift in US trade policy with structural changes rather than rate adjustments. The de minimis elimination removed the architecture that had enabled duty-free e-commerce imports. The Section 301 four-year review locked in China tariffs as a permanent feature rather than temporary leverage. And new tariff negotiations signaled an expanded use of trade barriers as a foreign policy tool across multiple trading relationships. These changes established the foundation for the even more dramatic actions that followed in early 2026.
The first quarter of 2026 delivered more tariff volatility than any comparable period in modern US history. Within a single week in February, the Supreme Court struck down an entire category of presidential tariff authority while a new universal surcharge was simultaneously imposed. Importers who were celebrating the IEEPA refund ruling on Thursday found themselves facing higher costs from the Section 122 surcharge the following Monday. This whiplash demonstrated that tariff risk management requires constant monitoring and contingency planning.
The remainder of 2026 features several potential inflection points. The Section 122 surcharge must expire by July 24 but could be replaced by permanent legislation. The USMCA review could strengthen or weaken preferential access to the North American market. Congressional midterm dynamics may influence the appetite for tariff legislation. Importers should model scenarios for each major upcoming event and have pricing strategies ready for multiple outcomes.
The most impactful 2025 tariff change was the elimination of the $800 de minimis threshold on August 29, which subjected 4 million daily packages to duties for the first time. Other major actions included the Section 301 four-year review that maintained China tariffs and increased rates on EVs and semiconductors, plus new tariff negotiations with the EU.
The two largest 2026 events so far are the SCOTUS ruling striking down IEEPA tariffs on February 20 (unlocking $166B in refunds) and the Section 122 universal 10% surcharge taking effect on February 24. Upcoming events include the Section 122 expiration in July and the USMCA six-year review.
China tariffs started at 25% on $34 billion in goods in July 2018 and expanded in waves to cover over $370 billion by 2019. The 2025 four-year review maintained these rates and increased specific categories. Combined with the 2026 Section 122 surcharge, effective China tariff rates now range from 17.5% to 45% depending on the product.
Confirmed upcoming events include the Section 122 surcharge expiration on July 24, the USMCA six-year review beginning July 1, several Section 301 exclusion window closings in June, and the IEEPA refund filing deadline on August 19. Additional executive actions or legislative changes could occur at any time.
Track every tariff change in real time and model how upcoming policy shifts will affect your costs before they take effect.
Start Monitoring Free