Washington is preparing another tariff hit on Chinese imports ahead of a September summit — bad for Chinese exporters and for anyone hoping the trade truce would hold.

• The US aims to add a 7.5% tariff on Chinese goods before Trump and Xi meet in Washington on September 24.
• The stated reason is China's factory overcapacity and the flood of cheap goods it sends worldwide.
• That would push new tariffs added under Trump's second term back to about 20%, the ceiling Beijing says both sides agreed to.
• One option under discussion is announcing a higher rate but suspending part of it, so the real rate lands at 7.5%.
• The final number is not settled, and lawyers are struggling to write the overcapacity findings into a solid legal basis.

Outlook: Washington wants the overcapacity report out before the summit, but legal snags could delay it or change the final rate at the last minute.