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Trump Delays Import Tariffs For 90 Days On 75 Countries, Except China

President Donald Trump shocked the world again by deciding to postpone import tariffs on 75 countries for the next 90 days. In a press conference on Wednesday (9/4) evening US time, he said the tariff postponement was carried out because many parties overreacted to his decision. 

"Yes. I see people starting to make noise and get scared, not like the mentality of champions," Trump said in response to a reporter's question quoted by AP, Thursday (10/4). 

Even so, Trump considered his decision at the beginning of last week to launch an import tariff war on many countries was a wrong decision because his country's trade deficit situation with other countries, not only with China. 

"Although if you look at it as a whole, China is the biggest violator in history, but also with other countries, it can no longer be maintained. Someone has to dare to take action," he said. 

An hour earlier, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters that the pause in the import tariff postponement was not because there was a massive sell-off in the financial market, but because many other countries wanted to open up negotiation channels. 

The 90-day trade war postponement does not apply to China. On the Truth Social social media account, Trump actually raised import tariffs there to 125 percent and took effect immediately. The reason is because China is reluctant to negotiate and instead attacks the US. 

"Because of the lack of respect shown by China to the world market, I am hereby increasing the tariffs imposed on China by the United States to 125 percent. Effective immediately," Trump explained. 

Trump hopes that with this threat, China will immediately realize that their country has cheated in global trade, including with the US, whose trade deficit has reached USD 1 trillion. 

On the contrary, and based on the fact that more than 75 countries have contacted the United States Representative, including the Department of Commerce, the Department of the Treasury, and the USTR (US Trade Representative), to negotiate solutions to the issues being discussed regarding Trade, Trade Barriers, Tariffs, Currency Manipulation, and Non-Monetary Tariffs. 

"And that these countries, upon my strong advice, do not retaliate in any way against the United States, I have authorized a 90-day delay and a substantial reduction in reciprocal tariffs during this period, to 10 percent, also effective immediately," he said. 

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Tag: Donald Trump Import Tariffs US Trade Representative