From relief to recoil: Trump’s China tariff hike fuels market volatility and dollar decline

Markets fled to safety Thursday as Trump escalated tariffs on China to 125%, triggering a surge in gold, yen, and bonds. Despite a brief equity rally, investor confidence in U.S. trade policy and the dollar continues to erode.

Financial markets witnessed a swift flight to safety on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump intensified his trade war with China, sharply raising tariffs while simultaneously suspending levies on other nations for 90 days. Investors flocked to safe-haven assets such as the Japanese yen, Swiss franc, and gold, while U.S. Treasury bonds rallied, putting the dollar under broad pressure.

Despite Asian equities surging on hopes of eased trade tensions, Trump’s move to single out China with a staggering 125% tariff rate—up from 10%—sparked fresh market anxiety. The Chinese yuan briefly fell to its lowest level since 2007 before slightly recovering. Meanwhile, the Aussie and Kiwi dollars, initially hit due to close trade ties with China, regained momentum as the risk rally spread to Europe.

Analysts noted a growing crisis of confidence in U.S. trade leadership, citing the administration’s erratic policy shifts. ANZ analysts highlighted concerns over the long-term credibility of the U.S. dollar, while others warned of lasting economic damage.

With markets on edge, investors remain cautious, questioning whether temporary policy reversals can offset the uncertainty wrought by Trump’s aggressive trade manoeuvres.

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