Overview

• The EU and China are finalizing plans for countermeasures, including retaliatory tariffs and digital taxes, in response to the US's sweeping tariff package, which imposes a 10% universal tariff and higher rates for specific countries.
• Global financial markets have reacted negatively, with major stock indices experiencing significant declines, and analysts warning of heightened volatility and economic risks.
• The WTO predicts a 1% decline in global trade and a 0.5 percentage point rise in global inflation, citing the tariffs as a severe threat to the global trade system.
• Trump has expressed conditional willingness to negotiate with affected nations, framing the tariffs as leverage for securing concessions, with a potential negotiation window until April 9.
• Key export-dependent industries, such as automotive and pharmaceuticals in Germany, face significant challenges, while concerns grow over supply chain disruptions and higher consumer prices in the US.