Trump's Tariff U-Turn: Unpacking the Pivotal 18 Hours

Behind the Scenes of a Trade Policy Shift and Key Phone Calls

Reports from The Washington Post reveal the dramatic turnaround of US President Donald Trump's trade policy. Just 18 hours before the announcement of a 90-day delay on reciprocal tariffs, with a 10% tariff on all trade partners, and a significant 125% tariff increase against China, the situation underwent a pivotal shift. The article sheds light on the intensive discussions that preceded this decision.

From the evening of December 8th to the announcement on December 9th, Donald Trump engaged in multiple phone calls with key Republican senators and foreign leaders. The initial decision to delay the tariffs was made on the morning of the 9th. The specifics of the announcement and supporting policy details were then delegated to his staff and advisors. This swift reversal took even the White House staff by surprise.

Following the announcement of the tariff postponement, Trump took to social media, declaring, "I think they are going to say this is the greatest day in the history of finance!"