The White House rejected reports that Trump is considering suspending new tariffs for 90 days.

Claims that President Donald Trump is considering temporarily suspending customs tariffs applied to all countries except China for 90 days have been denied by the White House.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, in a statement to CNBC reporter Eamon Javers, used the phrase “Fake news” regarding the claims of a postponement. These allegations surfaced following statements made by White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett to the press. Hassett had previously stated on Fox News that Trump would listen to the United States’ trading partners for “great deals” but ultimately focus on “what he knows works.”

According to CNBC, Hassett mentioned that Trump was considering a 90-day pause on customs tariffs for all countries except China. Following the news, stocks surged. Later, CNBC reported that White House officials were unaware of Trump’s potential plans to suspend customs tariffs for 90 days for all countries except China, causing stocks to drop again.

Additionally, the European Union (EU), led by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, announced readiness to negotiate tariffs with the United States. Speaking in Brussels, von der Leyen highlighted the significant impacts of current U.S. tariffs, especially on developing countries.

Alongside negotiation plans, the EU also announced the establishment of a surveillance task force to monitor imports. This step is considered part of a broader strategy as a significant portion of the EU’s trade is conducted with countries outside the U.S. Von der Leyen emphasized that 83% of EU trade is with countries other than the U.S.

Trump’s global trade strategy shifted to a more protectionist approach after his election as President of the U.S. on November 5, 2024, with his term beginning on January 20, 2025. Consistent with his promise to reduce the trade deficit during his candidacy, investor focus shifted to tariff rhetoric. Following January 20, successive tariff statements ignited risk perceptions in global markets. Recurrent tariff rhetoric became a major agenda item for investors, impacting market dynamics and asset pricing regularly.