Trump tariffs stay updates: Asian markets tumble as 104% China tariffs loom; president teases tax on pharma imports
Stock markets in Asia fell at the opening on Wednesday, continuing the drop seen earlier on Wall Street, amid fears over Donald Trump’s 104% tariff on imports from China. In Tokyo, the Nikkei fell 3.5% on the opening, and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong was down 4%.
Speaking in Washington on Tuesday night, the president claimed the massive import taxes he is imposing on Americans will help usher in victory for his Republican Party in next year’s midterm elections.
During 90 minutes of meandering remarks before GOP lawmakers and deep-pocketed donors at the National Republican Congressional Committee’s annual fundraising gala, Trump said the stage is now “set for a monumental victory for the Republicans in the midterms” on account of his policies, which most mainstream economists and business experts say will supercharge inflation and threaten America’s status as the world’s leading economy with a grievous self-inflicted wound.
“I know what the hell I’m doing. I know what I’m doing, and you know what I’m doing too,” he said.
The president also teased taxes on imported pharmaceuticals at the expense of Americans in an effort to bully companies into moving production to the U.S.
Asian shares deepen losses after another Wall St retreat
Asian shares sank again on Wednesday as the latest set of U.S. tariffs, including a massive 104% levy on Chinese imports, was due to take effect.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index initially lost nearly 4% and markets in South Korea, New Zealand and Australia also declined.
On Tuesday, the S&P 500 dropped 1.6% after wiping out an early gain of 4.1%. That took it nearly 19% below its record set in February. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.8%, while the Nasdaq composite lost 2.1%. Uncertainty is still high about what President Donald Trump will do with his trade war.
The sharply higher tariffs were scheduled to kick in after midnight Eastern time in the U.S., and investors have no idea what to make of President Donald Trump’s trade war.
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Watch: Cruz implores Trump to make tariffs deal and not make them permanent
Senator Ted Cruz implored President Donald Trump to make a deal on tariffs sooner rather than later and said they should not become a permanent feature of American trade policy.
There was a similar sentiment from Senator John Kennedy.
World bracing for market turmoil after US hits China with 104% tariffs in midnight ultimatum
Andy Gregory reports:
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Trump promises to raise military budget to $1 trillion even as DOGE hacks other agencies to the bones
“We’re going to be approving a budget, and I’m proud to say, actually, the biggest one we’ve ever done for the military,” Trump said Monday during a White House event with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Josh Marcus reports.
Watch: Trump insists miners would rather mine than have a penthouse on 5th Avenue
Watch: Maria Bartiromo explains why timing is crucial in Trump’s tariffs gamble
Trump wraps up remarks
President Donald Trump concluded his extensive remarks at the National Republican Congressional Committee dinner in Washington, D.C., after 91 minutes.
Asian shares deepen losses after Wall St falls again; Japan’s Nikkei drops almost 4%
Japan’s Nikkei saw a broad sell-off on Wednesday morning, falling as much as 4%, and other Asian markets were braced for further falls hours before President Donald Trump’s 104% tariffs against China are set to take effect.
The Trump administration has scheduled talks with South Korea and Japan, two close allies and major trading partners, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is due to visit next week.
“These are tailored, highly tailored deals,” Trump said at a White House event, where he signed executive orders aimed at boosting coal production. “We’ve had talks with many, many countries, over 70, they all want to come in. Our problem is, can’t see that many that fast.”
With reporting from wire services
Senate Democrats looking to block Trump nominees over administration’s ‘lawlessness’
A small but growing number of Senate Democrats are using their power to gum up the works as Donald Trump’s administration continues to flout the orders of federal judges and cut programs which its critcs argue the president’s appointees lack the constitutional standing to end.
Though the minority party lacks the numbers to actually block any of the president’s political appointments without the support of several Republican defections, several senators are signaling that they plan to slow down business in the chamber unless the White House starts listening to them.
John Bowden reports.
Source: independent.co.uk
