U.S. President Donald Trump today announced that his new tariff measures will be paused for 90 days as over 70 countries call for negotiations. However, the president immediately raised tariffs on China to 125%.
Posting on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump said he raised tariffs on China due to what he described as a “lack of respect” shown to the world’s markets.
He wrote:
Based on the lack of respect that China has shown to the World’s Markets, I am hereby raising the Tariff charged to China by the United States of America to 125%, effective immediately. At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the U.S.A. and other Countries are no longer sustainable or acceptable. Conversely, and based on the fact that more than 75 Countries have called Representatives of the United States, including the Departments of Commerce, Treasury, and the USTR, to negotiate a solution to the subjects being discussed relative to Trade, Trade Barriers, Tariffs, Currency Manipulation, and Non Monetary Tariffs, and that these Countries have not, at my strong suggestion, retaliated in any way, shape, or form against the United States, I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%, also effective immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter
Confirming Trump’s post, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sat with Trump while he wrote the announcement on Truth Social.
“The world is ready to work with President Trump to fix global trade, and China has chosen the opposite direction,” Lutnick posted on X.
