• Trump imposes new tariffs on 69 countries, amid a wave of volatility in the stock markets and the cryptocurrency market.

  • Crypto markets drop 7.2% after the decision, while the world awaits further US trade escalation.

In summary, it seems that Donald Trump believes that America does not have enough enemies and haters! With a presidential decree issued on July 31, Trump ignited a new spark in the global trade war, announcing tariffs ranging from 10% to 50% on imports from 69 countries around the world.

Despite attempts at calming some partners, the list was strict and surprising for some... and devastating for others. Are we facing a new round of global economic instability?

A surprising decision... and a limited postponement of the implementation date

The White House announced that the new tariffs will take effect starting August 7, 2025, after a slight postponement that was previously scheduled for August 1. Only Mexico temporarily escaped these measures, as it received an additional 90-day grace period to try to reach an agreement that satisfies the Trump administration.

Who is the most affected? Taxes reaching 50% on some countries
Here are the key revelations from the decree:

1- European Union, Japan, South Korea: 15%

2- The United Kingdom: 10%

3- Taiwan, India, South Africa, and Algeria: between 20% and 30%

4- Switzerland, Canada (outside USMCA), Serbia: between 35% and 39%

5- Brazil: maximum — 50%

6- Turkey: Added to the list for the first time, at a rate of 15%

Countries like Thailand and Cambodia breathed a sigh of relief after the tax rate, which was previously planned, was reduced. However, the escalation remains evident, especially in Washington's justification for the decision as a "reciprocal measure" in response to unfair trade surpluses against the United States.

Market reaction... crypto is more volatile than stock exchanges

The signatures did not go unnoticed. On July 31, with the signing of the decree:

1- The S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices fell by nearly 1%

2- The European STOXX 600 index lost between 1.3% to 1.5%

3- In the cryptocurrency market, the blow was harder, as the total market value of cryptocurrencies dropped by 7.2% in less than 24 hours, according to CoinGecko data.

It recorded a relatively slight decline of 2.5%, but currencies like [insert currency names], Solana, [insert currency names] and Dogecoin suffered larger losses ranging from 5% to 8%. Fortunately, things calmed down somewhat by the end of the day, but the market remains on alert for any new statements from the White House that could trigger another wave of volatility.


What does this step mean for the world?

The Trump administration seeks to reshape the trade balance through strict unilateral measures, reminiscent of the "America First" policy. With the 2026 elections approaching, it seems that economic escalation will be a key part of its political agenda.

But the clearer message is that global markets — from stock exchanges to crypto — have become hostage to political tensions, and any trade decision from the largest economy in the world could disrupt things in seconds.

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