U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a 90-day pause on newly introduced reciprocal tariffs for most countries, while significantly escalating trade measures against China by raising tariffs on its imports to 125%, effective immediately.

The dramatic developments follow widespread international concern over Trump’s sweeping tariff policy, first revealed on April 2. The original plan called for a 10% global tariff starting April 5, and sharply higher, country-specific reciprocal tariffs from April 9 on approximately 60 nations. Economists and major financial institutions warned the measures could trigger a deep global recession, with some predicting an “economic nuclear winter.”

Trump said his decision to delay the full implementation came after more than 75 countries reached out to U.S. officials expressing willingness to negotiate on issues including trade barriers, currency manipulation, and non-monetary tariffs. He praised these countries for not retaliating against the U.S., which factored into his decision to grant a temporary reprieve.

During the 90-day pause, a uniform 10% tariff will remain in effect for those countries engaged in negotiations with the U.S. The pause does not apply to China, which Trump singled out for “lack of respect” toward global markets. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he framed the hike as a necessary response to China’s trade practices, stating that the days of the U.S. being “ripped off” are over.

The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether diplomatic engagement can cool down a potentially destabilizing global trade conflict.