Former President Donald Trump unexpectedly changed course on Wednesday, announcing a 90-day suspension of the sweeping tariffs he had implemented just a week prior on numerous countries across the globe.
“I think people were getting a little ahead of themselves,” Trump said, referencing the market turmoil that followed his initial move. “They were getting a little jittery, a little scared,” he added.
Although Trump pressed pause on the broader tariff plan, he maintained a 10 percent “reciprocal” tariff on imports from nearly all nations and kept rigorous restrictions on metals in place. Notably, he escalated tariffs on Chinese goods to a staggering 125 percent. On social media, Trump justified the hike by pointing to what he called China’s “lack of respect” for global markets. In response, Beijing imposed stiff retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports.
World leaders responded positively to Trump’s partial retreat. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, German Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez all welcomed the pause.
“Let’s make the most of the next 90 days,” Tusk said in a social media post. Merz highlighted how the U.S. reversal demonstrated the strength of a united European front. Meanwhile, Sánchez remarked that the move “seems to open the door to negotiation and ultimately a potential agreement among nations.”
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