#TariffsPause The 90-Day Tariff Pause by Trump: Brilliant Strategy or Improvisation?

Trump's decision to pause tariffs for 90 days on over 75 countries, maintaining a universal 10% while punishing China with a 125% tariff, has unleashed a whirlwind of reactions. On one hand, it seems like a tactical move: markets, which were in free fall, rebounded with historic gains (S&P 500 +9%, Nasdaq +12%). The pause provides a breather for businesses and consumers, avoiding immediate price increases on imported goods, from iPhones to clothing. Moreover, Trump claims that over 75 countries are already seeking to negotiate, suggesting that the initial threat of high tariffs was a ploy to force bilateral agreements. The art of the deal in action?

But not everything is so clear. The volatility generated by his initial announcement, followed by a change of course in less than 24 hours, screams improvisation. The White House denied rumors of a pause days before, and even the U.S. Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, learned about it in real-time. This not only projects disorganization but also erodes the trust of trade partners. Who negotiates with someone who changes the rules with a tweet? The exception for China, with tariffs at 125%, intensifies a trade war that is already affecting companies like Apple and consumers who will pay more. China responded with an 84% tariff on U.S. goods, promising more tension.

In summary, the pause may be a tactical success to buy time and negotiate, but the chaos in its execution and the uncertainty about what will happen after July do not inspire confidence. Trump is walking a tightrope: he either achieves historic agreements, or this back-and-forth will end up costing the global economy dearly. What do you think? Is Trump a master negotiator, or is he just improvising?