Trump Halts Tariff Hike Plan, China Exempt

Trump Halts Tariff Hike Plan, China Exempt

In a sharp reversal of his aggressive trade stance, former President Donald Trump has announced a 90-day pause on planned tariff hikes for most countries—excluding China—following intense market turmoil and fears of a looming recession.

“All countries that haven’t retaliated will get a break,” Trump told reporters, explaining that they would now face a reduced blanket tariff of 10% until July, rather than the originally proposed steep hikes. “People were jumping a little bit out of line. They were getting yippy,” he added, in characteristically blunt fashion.

However, the pause does not apply to China. As Beijing prepares to impose retaliatory tariffs of up to 84% on U.S. goods starting tomorrow, Trump revealed that U.S. tariffs on Chinese exports would surge to 125% effective immediately. “They’ve gone too far,” he said.

According to Trump, more than 75 countries have reached out to the U.S. federal government to open negotiations since he unveiled the sweeping tariff plan. His announcement was posted on Truth Social, where he framed the move as a strategic pause rather than a retreat.

The move comes as Republican lawmakers attempt to change House rules to avoid a vote on the controversial tariff plan, facing growing concern from businesses and international allies.