If you've been watching the news lately, it feels like every time you blink, there’s a new headline about a "border tax" or a 100% levy on some random appliance. Honestly, keeping track of exactly when Donald Trump announced tariffs is like trying to map out a lightning storm while you're standing in the middle of it. It’s chaotic. It’s fast. And for business owners, it’s kinda terrifying.
People usually think of the "Trade War" as something that happened back in 2018. But we're in 2026 now, and the second act of this saga has been way more intense than the first. To understand where we are, we have to look at the specific dates these bombs were dropped—both during his first term and the current whirlwind of his second presidency.
The 2025 "Liberation Day" and the Second Term Blitz
Let’s start with what’s fresh. On January 20, 2025, the moment he stepped back into the Oval Office, the tone changed. It wasn't just talk anymore. By January 26, 2025, Trump signed a massive executive order that caught everyone off guard. He announced a 10% tariff on everything coming from China and a whopping 25% on goods from our neighbors, Canada and Mexico.
He used something called the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Basically, he declared a national emergency over the border and fentanyl, which gave him the legal "muscle" to bypass the usual slow-moving Congressional routes.
But the real date everyone remembers is April 2, 2025. That’s the day he dubbed "Liberation Day." He didn't just target one country; he announced a baseline 10% tariff on all imports into the United States. If it came from overseas, it was getting taxed. He also slapped specific, much higher rates on about 60 different countries.
- China: Jumped to 34% (and later hit over 100% in a April 8 standoff).
- European Union: Hit with 20%.
- Vietnam: Reached 46% for certain sectors.
It was a total mess for a few weeks. The stock market had a mini-heartburn, and by April 9, some of these were actually paused or "truced" because the logistics were a nightmare.
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Rolling Back to the 2018 Steel and Aluminum Shock
To get why he does this, you gotta remember the original 2018 timeline. That’s when the "Tariff Man" persona was born. On March 1, 2018, Trump stood in the White House and announced 25% tariffs on steel imports and 10% on aluminum.
People forget how much drama that caused. His own economic advisor, Gary Cohn, basically quit over it. Then, on March 22, 2018, he officially directed the USTR to target $50 billion worth of Chinese goods under Section 301. This was the "intellectual property" fight.
By September 18, 2018, he went even bigger, announcing tariffs on another $200 billion of Chinese imports. That was the moment it became a full-blown trade war. We saw the "Phase One" deal eventually happen in early 2020, but most of those taxes never really went away—even under the Biden years—which set the stage for the 2025 explosions.
The Weird "Copper and Cars" Phase of Late 2025
Fast forward back to the recent past. July 9, 2025, was a weird one. Trump took to social media (Truth Social) and announced a 50% tariff on copper. Now, if you’re a builder or an electrician, you know copper is the lifeblood of everything. Prices went through the roof immediately.
Then came the "Auto Flip-Flop." In early 2025, he threatened 25% on all cars and parts. But after some frantic meetings with Ford and GM execs, he actually relaxed some of those in October 2025. He realized that taxing the parts coming from Mexico was actually making "American" cars too expensive to build.
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Why the Dates Keep Shifting
One thing you've probably noticed is that an "announcement" doesn't always mean "implementation." Trump uses tariffs as a negotiating tool.
- The Threat: He announces a big number (like the 100% threat against Mexico on day one).
- The Pause: He agrees to a "30-day stay" while the other country panics.
- The Deal: He gets a promise on border security or a soybean purchase, and the tariff drops.
Take the November 1, 2025 "China Deal." After hitting China with triple-digit rates in April, they reached a truce. He lowered the "fentanyl tariffs" by 10% and suspended some of the higher rates in exchange for China buying 25 million tons of American soybeans. It’s a constant see-saw.
What This Means for You Right Now
We're sitting in early 2026, and the legal dust is still settling. The Supreme Court is actually looking at whether he was allowed to use that "Emergency" act (IEEPA) for the 2025 tariffs. If they rule against him, there could be billions in refunds headed back to U.S. companies. But for now, those taxes are being collected.
If you’re trying to plan a budget or buy a home, here’s the reality:
- Lumber and Cabinets: These got hit with a new 10-25% tax in September 2025. If you're remodeling, it’s pricier.
- Electronics: Most "de minimis" exemptions (the $800 rule that let you buy cheap stuff from sites like Temu or Shein without tax) were killed on August 29, 2025.
- Manufacturing: It’s a mixed bag. Steel workers are happy, but factory jobs overall actually dropped by about 70,000 in late 2025 because the cost of parts became too high.
Actionable Steps for 2026
Stop waiting for "free trade" to come back. It isn't happening.
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Audit your supply chain immediately. If you're a business owner, look at where your raw materials come from. Anything from India (currently 25% on most goods as of August 2025) or Brazil (40% on select items) is a liability.
Watch the court cases. The "Learning Resources v. Trump" case at the Supreme Court is the big one. If the court strikes down the IEEPA tariffs, your shipping costs could drop 10-15% overnight.
Hedge your currency. With these constant announcements, the dollar fluctuates wildly. If you're importing, talk to your bank about locking in exchange rates so a "Truth Social" post at 3:00 AM doesn't wipe out your profit margin for the month.
Ultimately, the "when" of Trump’s tariffs is less about a single date and more about a strategy of constant pressure. It’s a "new normal" where the price of a toaster can change based on a Friday afternoon proclamation. Stay lean, stay local if you can, and keep your eyes on the Federal Register.
To stay ahead of the next wave, you should review your 2025 import records and identify which specific HTS codes were hit by the April "Liberation Day" rates. Comparing these against the November truces will show you exactly where you're overpaying and where you might be eligible for a refund if the Supreme Court rules against the administration this spring.