Donald Trump
On April 9, 2025, President Donald Trump temporarily suspended tariffs on most nations for 90 days, reducing the rate to 10%, as markets faced a significant downturn. However, the tariff on Chinese imports was sharply increased to 125%. This shift follows intense pressure from volatile financial markets, with stocks and bonds experiencing heavy losses. While Trump framed the decision as part of a broader negotiation strategy, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed the pause was due to countries requesting trade talks, contradicting Trump’s earlier remarks. The move seeks to refocus the trade war on China, with plans for country-by-country negotiations in the coming months. Despite this pause, concerns remain over potential economic fallout and rising inflation.