Overview
- The U.S. has reduced tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, while China has lowered its duties from 125% to 10% for a 90-day period.
- The agreement lacks enforcement mechanisms and fails to address key issues like intellectual property protections and advanced technology export controls.
- Markets initially rallied on the news, with the S&P 500 gaining 3% on Monday and 0.7% on Tuesday, but analysts caution that optimism may be premature.
- Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson highlighted that the remaining tariffs could drive near-term inflation, complicating monetary policy decisions.
- Manufacturers in the U.S. are stockpiling key inputs to mitigate future risks, while experts warn the truce could unravel if talks stall by early August.