A trade war between the U.S., China and others continues to escalate, as each side targets nations with more tariffs on imported goods. Below is a collection of our coverage so far, including the potential effects on the promo products market. Follow this page for updates.

What’s the Deal With Tariffs and Promo?

January 29, 2020
The Phase One trade deal between the U.S. and China injects some optimism into the tariff discussion, but doesn’t erase the price pressures felt by the promo products industry. Read more here. 

U.S., China Sign 'Phase One' Trade Deal

January 15, 2020
The agreement includes a rate reduction on some import tariffs – a positive development for promo. Read more here. 

Trump Plans to Sign ‘Phase One’ Deal With China

January 3, 2020
The deal will include a scale down of some import tariffs that have impacted the promo products industry. Read more here. 

President Trump Announces ‘Phase One’ Trade Deal, Tariff Rollback

December 13, 2019
The scaledown on levies is likely to include some promo industry staples, such as T-shirts. Read more here. 

New Tariff Deadline Could Be Delayed

December 10, 2019
The U.S. currently plans to impose more tariffs on China on Sunday, but the Trump administration could delay the move. Read more here. 

U.S./China Tariff Rollbacks Could Be Imminent

December 4, 2019
The U.S./China trade war has continued its pattern of wide vacillation, shifting from recent downbeat developments to optimism for a deal before Dec. 15. Read more here. 

China Insists On U.S. Tariff Rollback

December 2, 2019
The reported hardline position could postpone a ‘Phase One’ trade deal, causing more complications for the American promo products industry. Read more here. 

Trump: ‘I’ll Raise Tariffs Even Higher’

November 21, 2019
The threat comes as some analysts say a “Phase One” US/China trade deal might not be signed until next year. Read more here. 

Report: China Pessimistic About ‘Phase One’ Trade Deal

November 18, 2019
The trade war, with its impact on the promotional products industry, appears poised to continue without a preliminary agreement, recent reports indicate. Read more here. 

Trump Threatens Tariff Increase

November 13, 2019
The U.S. president has put the kibosh on reports that a rollback of tariffs on Chinese goods is imminent, adding that he could institute stiffer levies. Read more here. 

Reports: Trump Could Rollback China Tariffs

November 6, 2019
It’s possible that levies that affect some items the promo products industry sells could be lifted, sources have indicated. Read more here. 

Trump Heralds Progress in US/China Trade Deal

October 28, 2019
Chinese officials have characterized the agreement as “basically completed.” This could be good news for the promotional products industry, though all current tariffs remain in place. Read more here. 

China Pledges IP Protection, Agricultural Purchases in Potential Trade War Progress

October 24, 2019
Beijing and Washington, D.C. continue to work on the particulars of a “phase one” trade deal. Read more here. 

Promo Products Industry Reacts to ‘Phase One’ US/China Trade Deal

October 14, 2019
There’s a mix of cautious optimism, mild relief, concern and arched-brow skepticism. Read more here. 

Downbeat Note Sounds as U.S. China Trade Deal Talks Resume

October 7, 2019
Still, leaders in the promo products industry are hoping for a deal or a truce that would provide tariff relief and greater certainty for markets. Read more here. 

Tariff Exemptions Going Into Effect For More Than 400 Chinese Products

September 20, 2019
The temporary lifting of levies comes in advance of U.S/China trade deal talks in October. Read more here. 

Industry Groups Urge Congress To Check Trump’s Power To Tariff

September 19, 2019
The Tariff Reform Coalition wants Congress to take more control of U.S. trade policy. Read more here. 

Bloomberg Media: Trump Could Offer China Interim Trade Deal

September 12, 2019
Sources say the deal could include a roll back of some U.S. tariffs. Read more here. 

Trump Delays Tariff Increase

September 12, 2019
The president has pushed back a planned heighted duty rate on $250 billion of Chinese imports by two weeks. Read more here. 

Potential Breakthrough On Key Issue In U.S./China Trade War

September 9, 2019
There’s reportedly a “conceptual agreement” related to enforcing the terms of a new trade deal, particularly as it relates to intellectual property theft. Read more here. 

Tariffs On $112 Billion In Chinese Imports Take Effect

September 3, 2019
If not withdrawn, the tariffs will likely cause price increases on duty-hit promotional products. Read more here. 

Heightened Tariffs Prompt Promo Price Increase Fears, Worry Over Economy

August 26, 2019
The trade war between the U.S. and China has escalated, with both sides ratcheting up import duties in moves likely to impact the promo products industry. Read more here. 

Trump Import Tariff Delay Isn’t A Real Reprieve For Promo

August 13, 2019
Many items that promo products firms import and sell will still be subject to a new tariff of 10% come Sept. 1. Read more here. 

Trump To Put 10% Tariffs On $300 Billion More In Chinese Imports

August 1, 2019
The move has potential to trigger price increases on a broad spectrum of promotional products. Read more here. 

U.S. & China Trade Talks End Without A Deal

July 31, 2019
An agreement doesn’t appear to be in sight, meaning the promo products industry must continue to wait for import tariff relief. Read more here. 

Sources: U.S., China Negotiators To Meet Face-to-Face

July 24, 2019
The talks will center on forging a new trade deal – potentially good news for the promotional products industry. Read more here. 

Trade Talks With China To Resume, No New Tariffs For The Moment

July 1, 2019
The U.S./China trade news out of this weekend’s G20 Summit comes as a welcomed development for the promo products industry. Read more here. 

Hundreds of U.S. Companies Urge Trump To Nix Tariffs

June 14, 2019
They said more tariffs could cost the U.S. 2 million jobs and slash GDP by 1%. Read more here. 

Trump Threatens Tariffs On $300 Billion More In Chinese Imports

June 11, 2019
Additional levies would go into place immediately if China’s president fails to meet with Trump at the G20 summit, the U.S. president said. Read more here. 

Tariffs On Mexican Imports, India Trade Status Change Cause Concern For Promo

June 3, 2019
President Donald Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on Mexican imports and his decision to revoke preferred trade partner status for India and Turkey are the chief executive’s latest trade policy decisions to trigger concern for the promotional products market. Read more here. 

China Tariffs Continue to Cause Industry & Economic Uncertainty

May 21, 2019
Analysts also say that corporate profits could fall, thousands of retail stores could close, and consumer prices could rise. Read more here. 

Promo Prices Poised to Rise Amid Heightened Tariffs

May 15, 2019
Many industry firms feel tariffs could hurt the general economy and cut into promo’s sales and profits during the second half of the year. Read more here. 

U.S. Raises Tariffs to 25%

May 10, 2019
China retaliates by raising tariffs on $60 billion worth of U.S. goods. Read more here. 

Trump Threatens to Increase Tariffs

May 6, 2019
The tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese imports would increase to 25%, the president said. Read more here. 

Report: U.S. Nearing Trade Deal With China

April 17, 2019
Still, a primary unresolved issue relates to import tariffs – something of particular importance to the promotional products industry. Read more here. 

Trump Delays Import Tariff Increase; Promotional Products Leaders React

February 25, 2019
The tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports will not increase to 25% come March, the president said. Read more here. 

Trump Says 'No Magical Date' For China Trade Deal

February 20, 2019
The comment reiterates that the president could be willing to extend the deadline for reaching a deal beyond early March – good news for the promotional products industry. Read more here. 

Trump Could Delay Increasing Tariffs On Chinese Imports

February 13, 2019
U.S. levies on $200 billion in Chinese goods are set to rise to 25% on March 2. Read more here. 

The Real Cost of Tariffs

February 5, 2019
Counselor's Editor-in-Chief Dave Vagnoni shares his thoughts in this exclusive commentary. Read more here. 

Reports: U.S. Could Lift Tariffs on China

January 22, 2019
Still, President Donald Trump says no trade deal is imminent. Read more here. 

US, China Agree To Suspend Planned Tariff Increase

December 3, 2018
Promo products executives had mixed feelings about the latest development in the ongoing trade war. Read more here. 

China’s Manufacturing Sector Stalls in November

November 30, 2018
It was the first time the sector didn’t record monthly growth since July 2016. Could that have implications for the promo products industry? Read more here. 

Tariffs: Impact & Advice for the Promo Industry

October 29, 2018
Increased products costs, price fluctuations, supply chain disruption and thinner margins could all be coming to the promo market in 2019 as a result of U.S. tariffs on imported Chinese products. Read more here. 

US, Canada and Mexico Reach Tentative New Trade Deal

October 01, 2018
The US and Canada came to a final resolution late on September 30, an hour before the midnight deadline. Read more here. 

Podcast: Reaction to Escalating U.S.-China Trade War

September 25, 2018
In an exclusive interview with Counselor’s John Corrigan, Bamko Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships Joshua White and Vice President of Operations Max Levavi discuss the tariffs imposed by the United States and China and how they’ll impact the promotional products industry. Listen to the podcast here. 

U.S. Hits China With Largest Round of Tariffs

September 24, 2018
The United States has launched the third round of tariffs in its trade war with China, officially taxing an additional $200 billion worth of Chinese goods. Read more here. 

U.S.-China Trade War Escalates With Third Round of Tariffs

September 18, 2018
President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he will impose new tariffs on about $200 billion in Chinese goods, as the trade war between the world’s two largest economies intensifies. Read more here. 

China Promises Retaliation If Trump Imposes More Tariffs

September 10, 2018
China on Monday said it would retaliate if President Trump moves forward with another threatened round of tariffs – potentially troubling news for the promotional products industry. Read more here. 

U.S. Hits China With Second Round of Tariffs

August 23, 2018
The United States has launched the second round of tariffs in its trade war with China, officially taxing an additional $16 billion worth of Chinese goods. Read more here. 

G-20 Summit Fails to Resolve U.S.-China Trade War

July 24, 2018
The trade war between the U.S. and China dominated the discussion at the G-20 summit over the weekend, as finance ministers and central bankers of the world’s top 20 economies worried how the dispute may impact the global economy. Read more here. 

U.S. Prepares Another $200 Billion in Tariffs

July 12, 2018
The Trump administration is poised to impose another round of tariffs on Chinese goods that are worth $200 billion as the U.S.-China trade war rages on. Read more here. 

New U.S.-China Tariffs Start Trade War

July 06, 2018
After months of verbal sparring with China over trade policies, the United States has thrown the first punch by officially levying tariffs on $34 billion worth of Chinese goods. Read more here. 

U.S. Officially Slaps China With Significant Tariffs

June 15, 2018
President Donald Trump is moving ahead with 25% tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods. Read more here. 

Canadian Promo Industry Reacts to Tariffs

June 13, 2018
In the weeks following President Donald Trump’s announcement that the U.S. would be implementing tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, a war of words between Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has opened up the potential for a trade war between the two countries, posing concerns for the promotional industry. Read more here. 

Steel and Aluminum Tariffs Could Lead to Fallout for Promo Industry

June 05, 2018
Late last week the Trump Administration announced tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum from Canada, Europe and Mexico some analysts fear will ignite a trade war that damages economies and kills jobs in affected countries and the U.S. Read more here. 

U.S. to Announce 25% Tariff on Some Chinese Goods

May 31, 2018
The détente between the United States and China didn’t last long, as the Trump administration said this week that it will continue pursuing action on trade with China. Read more here. 

U.S., China Put Tariffs On Hold

May 22, 2018
The Trump administration has suspended its plan to impose tariffs on $150 billion in Chinese imports to the U.S. while trade talks between the two countries continue. Read more here. 

China Announces Tariffs on 106 U.S. Products

April 04, 2018
On Wednesday, following the U.S. recently announcing tariffs targeting China, Beijing announced tariffs of its own on 106 U.S. products. Read more here. 

Industry Reacts to Potential US-China Trade War

March 28, 2018
Promo leaders maintain that tariffs could play a part in price increases, but are taking a wait-and-see stance. Read more here. 

Podcast: Reaction to Potential U.S.-China Trade War

March 28, 2018
In an exclusive interview with Counselor’s John Corrigan, Bamko (asi/131431) Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships Joshua White and Vice President of Operations Max Levavi discuss the tariff proposals between the United States and China and how they’ll impact the promotional products industry.​ Listen to the podcast here. 

Trump Considers Sweeping Tariffs on Chinese Goods

March 15, 2018
President Donald Trump is reportedly seeking to impose tariffs on up to $60 billion of Chinese imports, targeting the technology and telecommunications sectors in a move that could have implications for the promotional products industry. Read more here. 

Import Tariff Bill Could Benefit Promo Industry

January 30, 2018
The U.S. Senate is considering a bill that could send ripples through the promotional products industry by temporarily reducing or suspending duties on approximately 1,700 imported raw materials and finished products, including types of apparel, drinkware and drawstring backpacks. Read more here. 

Looming NAFTA Talks Spark Concern, Hope in Promo Industry

August 15, 2017
President Donald Trump has often lambasted the North American Free Trade Agreement, calling it the worst in deal in American history while asserting that it has driven U.S. jobs abroad. Read more here. 

Will Trump’s Policies Be Good for the Promo Products Industry?

February 23, 2017
Counselor's Editor-in-Chief Dave Vagnoni and VP of Editorial and Marketing Services Andy Cohen discuss tariffs and much more in a Great Debate Q&A. Read more here. 

Trump Team Considering Import Tariffs

January 03, 2017
Throughout his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump spoke about imposing tariffs on imported goods in an effort to boost Made-in-America manufacturing and bring jobs back to the U.S. Read more here.