Will the United States impose broad new tariffs on Chinese goods this quarter?
Horizon — by end Q4 2026
Scored to 2026-10-15: the criterion says “within 90 days”, 77 days before the horizon above. The criterion is what the read is settled against.
Resolves 'occurred' if the US announces new tariffs covering at least USD 50 billion of annual Chinese imports within 90 days. Resolves 'did_not_occur' otherwise.
- 01ActorUnited States — leverage on trade and industrial policy, with political benefit at home
- 02ActorChina — to avoid a tariff spiral while defending its export base
- 03ActorUS importers and markets — predictability; they price tariff risk into equities and the currency
- 04Would change ita trade-negotiation breakdown or a fresh flashpoint
- 05Would change itthe US political calendar and the administration's posture
- 06Would change ita Chinese retaliation that raises the cost of escalation
- 07ReasoningTariff policy has been an active lever and could move either way inside a quarter, so the honest read is a genuine coin toss rather than a confident call.
Tariff policy has been an active lever and could move either way inside a quarter, so the honest read is a genuine coin toss rather than a confident call.
United States — leverage on trade and industrial policy, with political benefit at home
China — to avoid a tariff spiral while defending its export base
US importers and markets — predictability; they price tariff risk into equities and the currency
a trade-negotiation breakdown or a fresh flashpoint
the US political calendar and the administration's posture
a Chinese retaliation that raises the cost of escalation
Resolves 'occurred' if the US announces new tariffs covering at least USD 50 billion of annual Chinese imports within 90 days. Resolves 'did_not_occur' otherwise.
Source of record
USTR announcements and the Federal Register — named in the criterion