Track every tariff turn - without scrolling endless headlines. Tariff Pulse distills the latest U.S.– China trade-war moves, as well as a global tariff related updates, duty changes, and policy signals into colour-coded cards that flag risk or relief at a glance. Short summaries give you the high-level view of what happened and why it matters to e-commerce sellers and U.S. importers or those selling into the US - whether the impact is on landed cost, cash-flow, or sourcing strategy.
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New US–UK deal slashes trade barriers and opens $5B in export potential for US producers Positive ↑
• Trump and Starmer announced a trade agreement offering major wins for American beef, ethanol, and aerospace, with over $5B in new export access.• The deal retains a baseline 10% reciprocal tariff but cuts duties on key sectors—UK cars get limited 10% access before 25% kicks in.• Importers and…
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Trump weighs baby product tariff exemptions, but warns against too many carve-outs Positive ↑
• The White House is considering exempting child care goods like cribs and baby formula from tariffs, but Trump says he’s hesitant to complicate the system with too many carve-outs.• Over 70% of baby products sold in the U.S. come from China, and industry groups warn families will feel the pinch.•…
See MoreUS-China to kick off tariff talks in Switzerland this week, but quick deal unlikely Positive ↑
• High-level US-China trade talks will begin May 9–12, with Treasury Secretary Bessent and China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng attending the first face-to-face since January.• Both sides say they’re open to talks, but remain firm—China vows to fight to the end if needed, while Bessent says this round is…
See MoreUS stocks drop as Bessent confirms no China trade talks, Trump says US doesn’t ‘have to sign’ deals Negative ↓
• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sparked a midday market rally by saying the U.S. had received “good offers” and may finalize major trade deals “as early as this week.”• But Trump undercut that optimism, telling reporters the U.S. doesn’t need to sign any deals—“they want a piece of our market,…
See MoreUK-India free trade deal slashes steep tariffs on whisky, gin, cars, and Indian exports Positive ↑
• Britain and India just signed a sweeping free trade agreement cutting tariffs on goods like Scotch, gin, cars, and Indian textiles, food, and jewelry.• British whisky and gin will see tariffs fall from 150% to 40%, while India gains near full duty-free access for exports like textiles, footwear,…
See MoreMattel hikes toy prices, Ford braces for $2.5B hit as Trump tariffs ripple across industries Negative ↓
• Mattel is raising U.S. prices and scaling back China imports after warning tariffs will cost it $270M this year—Barbie and Hot Wheels could get pricier.• Ford projects a $2.5B tariff hit and has yanked its annual outlook, citing “severe disruption” across supply chains.• With GM forecasting up to…
See MoreNavigating the Grey: Stories from the Edge of Customs Declarations and DDP Neutral →
A trusted friend in Zhejiang shared his factory's experiences with customs inspections and low declarations under DDP arrangements. Over two years and fifteen containers, his freight forwarder consistently reported lower values without issue until recently. One container underwent rigorous customs…
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Trump Orders 100% Tariff on Foreign-Made Movies to 'Save Dying' Hollywood Negative ↓
• Trump wants the Commerce Department to slap a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the U.S.• It’s unclear how this would work—films are services, not goods, and current trade rules don’t tariff creative content.• Many U.S. studios film abroad to cut costs, so this could backfire domestically.…
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I just saw a tariff bill showing a shocking 125% duty. Has anyone else come across this? Negative ↓
Someone just shared a customs bill showing duties at 125% (total 25%+20%+125%), and honestly, I thought I'd seen it all until now. Those numbers ain't just high, they're straight-up lethal for SMEs. Especially brutal if you shipped product before the hike hit, only to see your cash flow vaporized…
See MoreThink Vietnam Is Cheaper? Check Productivity Before Your COGS Spikes 12% Negative ↓
With the current tariffs looming, Vietnam seemed like our lifeline until we dug into real numbers. Sure, Vietnamese factories offered lower wages, but their productivity? Only a third of China’s. My cost per T-shirt actually rose 12% after accounting for output efficiency. Worse still, multiple…
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