Tariff Truce Talks Float $30 Billion Trade Board, Parts Pricing Still Unclear

Trade ambassador Jamieson Greer said the U.S. and China discussed creating a "Board of Trade" that would reduce tariffs on $30 billion in noncritical goods, though President Trump stated he did not discuss extending the current tariff truce with Chinese President Xi.

What goods would see tariff cuts under the proposed Board of Trade?

No product list has been released. Greer's statement referenced "noncritical goods" but did not define the category or specify whether truck parts, chassis components, trailer axles, or other freight-equipment imports would qualify for reduced tariffs under the proposed board. The $30 billion figure represents a fraction of total U.S.-China trade, roughly 5 percent of the $600 billion in goods that moved between the two countries in 2025, leaving the majority of tariffed imports, including most heavy-duty truck components sourced from Chinese suppliers, in limbo.

How this affects parts pricing and lead times

Fleets and parts suppliers have been operating under shifting tariff schedules since April, when the administration issued $35.5 billion in refunds to importers who paid duties during the initial tariff wave. A federal appeals court subsequently paused a lower-court ruling that had blocked the 10-percent baseline tariff, leaving importers of truck chassis, axles, brake drums, and aftermarket electronics liable for duties again until the legal challenge resolves.

Without a published list of goods covered by the proposed Board of Trade, parts distributors cannot forecast whether commonly imported components, wheel-end assemblies, lighting harnesses, fifth-wheel castings, aluminum crossmembers: will see duty relief or remain subject to the current tariff structure. Lead times on containerized parts from Shenzhen and Ningbo have already stretched from six weeks to nine as importers delay orders pending tariff clarity.

Timeline and implementation unknown

Greer did not provide a timeline for establishing the Board of Trade or reducing tariffs on the $30 billion in goods. The current tariff truce, which paused additional duties on certain categories, has no published expiration date. Trump's statement that he did not discuss extending the truce suggests the administration may let it lapse or renegotiate terms separately from the Board of Trade proposal.

For fleets managing parts inventory, the gap between announcement and implementation matters. A six-month delay in finalizing the board's product list would push any tariff relief into late 2026, after most fleets have already locked in 2027 truck orders and negotiated parts contracts with distributors who priced in current duty rates.

What small fleets should do now

Fleets with heavy exposure to Chinese-sourced parts, particularly those running older equipment that relies on aftermarket electronics, lighting, and wheel-end components not available domestically, should continue budgeting for current tariff rates until a final product list is published. Distributors interviewed in prior coverage reported that even temporary tariff relief has not translated to lower shelf prices when suppliers remain uncertain whether duties will return.

Owner-operators and small fleets ordering new trucks in the next 90 days should confirm with their dealer whether chassis pricing reflects current tariff assumptions or includes a hedge for potential duty changes. OEMs building trucks with imported axle components, wiring harnesses, and aluminum extrusions have absorbed some tariff costs but passed others through as line-item surcharges that may or may not reverse if the Board of Trade reduces duties on those parts.