Trump freezes global tariffs for 90 days—except on China

President Donald Trump has ordered a 90-day suspension of the sweeping reciprocal tariffs set to hit dozens of countries this week—excluding China, which remains the sole target of the full tariff force.

The move offers a temporary lifeline to global markets and international allies, many of whom feared the tariffs would spark a worldwide financial crisis. Trump’s decision to exempt China from the pause, however, signals a sharpened focus on America’s largest economic rival.

Trump unveiled a new trade doctrine on April 2, announcing a global 10% base tariff on imports beginning April 5, alongside higher, country-specific reciprocal tariffs targeting roughly 60 nations, scheduled to take effect April 9. The surprise announcement triggered panic among global investors and economists, who warned of a potential chain reaction leading to a severe recession—or worse.

According to senior officials familiar with the matter, more than two dozen countries reached out to the Trump team in recent days to request emergency trade talks. In response, Trump issued a 90-day hold on the tariffs for all of them—except China, which he accused of long-standing trade abuses that “can no longer be ignored.”

The decision provided immediate relief to investors. Global stocks rebounded modestly, and economists downgraded some of their more catastrophic projections—though many warned the world economy remains on edge, given the temporary nature of the pause and the exclusion of China, a central player in global supply chains.

This is a breaking story.