Trump PAUSES Tariffs (Except China) - Claims It Was His Plan All Along
The Josh Lafazan Show on YouTube - Episode 85
Today's top stories in U.S. news, politics, government, and world affairs:
🎙️ Trump Freezes Tariffs, Markets Explode: Trade Chaos or Strategic Genius?
On this episode of The Josh Lafazan Show, we dive into President Trump’s sudden 90-day pause on global tariffs — and the massive market rally that followed. While Wall Street celebrates and investors breathe a sigh of relief, the big question remains: Was this all part of the plan, or just damage control after economic chaos?
📉 Tariff Whiplash: From Economic Spiral to Strategic Pause
In classic Trump fashion, the administration did a dramatic about-face this week, announcing a temporary pause on reciprocal tariffs for all U.S. trading partners — except China.
Markets reacted immediately. The S&P 500 jumped 6%, the Dow rose 5%, and the Nasdaq soared 8%, rebounding from steep declines triggered by Trump’s initial tariff rollout. Treasury yields, which had been signaling financial distress, began to settle — but the damage to confidence lingers.
This isn’t the first time Trump’s tariff policies have reversed course. First it was tariffs on everyone, then just autos, then just the USMCA countries — now a global pause, minus China. The constant volatility has left businesses and world leaders spinning.
🌎 A World Reacts — and a Strategy Questioned
According to the Wall Street Journal, over 75 countries began engaging with Trump’s administration to negotiate trade terms, currency issues, and barriers. Trump’s team insists the pause is part of a long-term strategy — not a reaction to global market panic.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent echoed that claim, saying the pause was about “maximum negotiating leverage.” But critics across the spectrum — from Jamie Dimon to Bill Ackman, Ben Shapiro, and even the editorial board of the WSJ — are calling foul.
Let’s be real: This wasn’t some 4D chess move. It was a response to economic torpedoing, global condemnation, and mounting donor pressure. And if anyone deserves credit, it might just be the still-missing-in-action voice of reason from Trump’s first term — Steve Mnuchin.
🇨🇳 China Gets No Reprieve
While most countries got a break, China was hit even harder. Trump raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 125%, up from 104%. China responded by increasing their tariffs on U.S. imports to 84%, escalating an already heated trade battle.
Trump’s reasoning? He claimed China has shown a “lack of respect” throughout the negotiations. Bessent doubled down, saying China will suffer far more than the U.S. under the new levies. Whether that’s true — or whether American consumers and businesses will continue to bear the brunt — is up for debate