Donald Trump Pauses Tariffs for 90 Days – China Excluded from Relief

Donald Trump Pauses Tariffs for 90 Days

Amid U.S.-China Tensions, Trump Announces Tariff Moves: Relief for Some, Pressure on Beijing

As tensions between the U.S. and China simmer, former President Donald Trump made two major tariff announcements on Wednesday. While these decisions brought relief to other nations, they doubled down on his tough stance toward Beijing.

Tariff War Escalates

The continuing trade war escalated sharply when Beijing raised its own duties on American goods from 34% to 84% in retaliation for the U.S. upping its taxes on Chinese imports to 104%.

But Trump’s response was swift and aggressive. Taking to his social media platform, Truth Social, he announced an even steeper tariff increase on China now up to 125% effective immediately.
“At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of exploiting the U.S. and other nations are no longer sustainable or acceptable,” Trump wrote.

A 90-Day Pause Offers Relief to Allies

In a move to ease tensions elsewhere, Trump announced a 90-day hold on tariffs exceeding a baseline 10% rate for countries that refrained from retaliating. Over 75 nations reportedly engaged in talks with the U.S. and avoided imposing counter-tariffs, which Trump credited to his “strong suggestion.”
“Given these countries’ cooperation, I’ve authorized this pause, during which reciprocal tariffs will stay at a lower 10% rate. Thank you for your attention!” he added.

Impact on India

Despite recently announced U.S. tariffs on Indian goods, India has adopted a cautious approach, emphasizing ongoing efforts to finalize a bilateral trade deal.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, stated: “We are assessing the implications of the tariffs. Discussions with the U.S. are progressing, and we remain committed to strengthening our strategic partnership.”
The tariff pause may offer Indian markets temporary relief and buy time for New Delhi to negotiate a deal or strategize if tariffs resume.

Policy Flip-Flop or Strategy?

While the pause benefits many countries, it highlights policy uncertainty within the Trump administration. After initially insisting tariffs would bring long-term gains despite short-term pain, the sudden shift raises questions.
Speculation swirls over whether tariffs are a permanent tool or merely a negotiation tactic. When asked, Trump’s allies offered mixed answers, and the former president himself added to the ambiguity:
“Tariffs could stay, but negotiations matter too—there are issues beyond tariffs we need to address.”

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant, however, defended the move: “This was Trump’s strategy from the start. One could argue it’s left China in a tough spot.”

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