On April 9, US President Donald Trump announced a 90-day suspension of his proposed additional tariffs on 75 countries — including India — offering them a temporary reprieve. These nations will now face only a 10% basic blanket tariff until July. At the same time, Trump responded fiercely to China’s counter-tariffs by imposing a steep 125% import duty on Chinese goods.
Trump’s sudden pause in his aggressive trade policy came as a surprise, especially after consistently stressing that he would stand firm on tariffs. Speaking to reporters, Trump said, “Some countries were stepping out of line. They were getting irritable.” He added that nations which refrained from retaliating, like India, would be given temporary relief to allow room for bilateral trade talks.
Notably, this isn’t a cancellation — just a strategic pause. Trump emphasized that these 90 days are a window for negotiations. “We don’t want to hurt countries we don’t need to hurt,” he said from the Oval Office, “and all of them want to talk.”
Behind this apparent act of diplomacy lies another story: pressure at home. Following the announcement, US stock markets surged nearly 10%, indicating that American investors were increasingly anxious about Trump’s trade war approach.
India, which opted for quiet diplomacy and did not impose retaliatory tariffs on the US, appears to be benefiting from its restraint. Analysts believe that India’s strategy — initiating talks instead of confrontation — may be yielding results.
In contrast, China and the European Union chose a more confrontational route. The EU has already announced 25% tariffs on €21 billion worth of US goods. Meanwhile, China escalated its tariffs on American imports from 34% to 84%, prompting the US to raise the stakes to a 125% tariff in response.
Just hours before the new US tariffs on China were due to take effect, China’s Commerce Minister condemned the move, calling it a “serious violation of international trade principles.” He added, “China does not want a trade war, but we will not remain silent if our people’s rights and interests are harmed.”
According to The Guardian, Diana Choyleva, chief economist at Enodo Economics, said, “For President Xi, the only politically viable response to Trump’s escalation is to stand firm — any sign of retreat could be seen as weakness.”
The next 90 days will be crucial in determining whether this is a turning point in Trump’s trade strategy or just a temporary maneuver in an ongoing global power play.
