Is this a blink? Or is it a nudge?
Since Liberation Day, the White House has spent considerable effort recalibrating its tariff rates and applications as the markets responded — largely and significantly negatively. Donald Trump has hit China particularly hard, and after the first few days of the tariff rollout, appeared to make China his primary target for tariffs. Talks with other trading partners immediately opened up and reportedly focused on using tariffs as part of a strategy to isolate Beijing.
Today, however, the Wall Street Journal reports that Trump is considering de-escalation reductions with China, reportedly to boost the prospects for trade talks:
The Trump administration is considering slashing its steep tariffs on Chinese imports—in some cases by more than half—in a bid to de-escalate tensions with Beijing that have roiled global trade and…
