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Donald Trump’s frenzied tariff barrage has been marked by reversals and faulty rollouts, baffling US trading partners and businesses while raising questions about the aims of his signature policy. During his six weeks in office, Trump imposed sweeping Canada and Mexico tariffs, only to pull back with exemptions and deferrals. Confusion has surrounded new import taxes on China. An ambitious proposal to charge duties on previously exempt low-cost packages had to be hastily reversed when it became clear the government lacked the ability to actually collect them. Trump has said tariffs can help achieve his most ambitious goals, from remaking the US economy to raising trillions in revenue. But several hasty announcements have injected chaos into the economy and financial markets, casting doubts about the White House’s trade strategy.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. This week, the new US president addressed the US Congress in what turned out to be the longest speech in history. Apart from talking about immigration, geopolitical conflicts and making America great again, Donald Trump reiterated his strong stance on tariffs.

global economic uncertainty and market volatility, retail investors are being advised to hold some cash reserves rather than deploying all their capital into equities. Pankaj Pandey, Head of Research at ICICIdirect, cautioned that persistent global risks, including policy paralysis and trade tensions, could trigger further corrections in the Indian stock market. Speaking in an ET Now interaction, Pandey emphasized that uncertainty regarding global growth and inflation remains, primarily due to ongoing trade disputes between the world’s two largest economies. He warned that the market might not be fully factoring in the potential risks, making it prudent for investors to maintain some liquidity.

China unlocked more stimulus on Wednesday and promised greater efforts to cushion the impact of an escalating U.S. trade war. Hours earlier, Germany's likely next government agreed on the biggest overhaul to fiscal policy since the country's reunification.

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said on Thursday he leans strongly against a rate cut at the Fed's upcoming policy meeting this month, although he reckons cuts later in the year remain on track if inflation pressures continue to abate. In discounting an easing at March 18-19 Federal Open Market Committee, Waller indicated he simply will not have the inflation data in hand to know whether cutting what's now a 4.25% to 4.5% federal funds rate range is justified, especially amid the heavy uncertainty created by President Donald Trump's trade agenda.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. MUMBAI : Flush with funds, study-abroad platform Leap is in late-stage talks to acquire study-abroad fintech Prodigy Finance Ltd, with plans to acquire more startups, three persons close to the development told Mint. The final details are being ironed out, and the deal will close soon, said one of the persons, adding that Leap is also evaluating two to three other startups to acquire, with study-abroad consultancy KC Overseas Education being one of the leading prospects.

Combination of trade and strategic dominance makes China an unlikely counterweight to a protectionist US. Trade and geopolitical risks have escalated since Trump assumed office, and the second-order outcome of reciprocal US tariffs is Chinese overproduction. US tariffs on Chinese goods will rise further and China's exports will be diverted to Europe and Asia.

US economy and rumors of a possible recession, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon provided some reassurance with a straightforward yet effective answer, as per a report.

Indian rupee weakened on Thursday, pressured by dollar demand by importers, even as the greenback lingered near a four-month low against its major peers amid concerns about a slowdown in the U.S. economy. The rupee closed at 87.1150 against the U.S. dollar, down about 0.2% on the day.

CRISIL. The forecast rests on two key assumptions: the continuation of normal monsoon patterns and soft commodity prices. CRISIL expects that these factors, coupled with cooling food inflation, tax benefits outlined in the Union Budget 2025-2026, and lower borrowing costs, will stimulate discretionary consumption. «India’s resilience is being tested again. Over the past few years, we have built a few safe harbours against exogenous shocks — healthy economic growth, low current account deficit and external public debt, and adequate forex reserves — which provide ample policy latitude. So, while the waters can turn choppy, consumption-led rural and urban demand will be crucial to short-term growth. On the other hand, continuing investments and efficiency gains will aid in the medium term. We foresee both manufacturing and services supporting growth through fiscal 2031,» said Amish Mehta, Managing Director and CEO of CRISIL.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday stated that the world's leading economies are grappling with a population crisis. Speaking at a book launch, Naidu emphasised that while these countries possess advanced resources such as Artificial Intelligence and cutting-edge technologies, they lack a sufficient workforce to operate them. «All top countries in the world are struggling. There is no population. AI and technology exist, but there are no people to operate them,» he said.

BEIJING — China has more room to act on fiscal policy amid domestic and external uncertainties, Finance Minister Lan Fo'an told reporters on Thursday.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 is blamed for deepening the Great Depression. Don’t tell that to the Trump administration, which just unveiled the toughest tariffs in almost a century.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Few changes prompted by President Trump’s second term could be as consequential for Europe as Germany shedding fiscal prudence to turbocharge its military and retool its economy. In a hastily convened press conference in Berlin late Tuesday, Friedrich Merz, the man in line to become Germany’s next chancellor, announced a break with a position that had governed the country’s relations with its European partners for decades.

Uttarakhand if they come to the state in the winter. «The government's vision of round the year tourism will strengthen the economy and create jobs for the youth,» he said. «We want border areas to reap the benefits of tourism,» Modi added.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Estimates of gross value added (GVA) and gross domestic product (GDP) for 2024-25 were released last month along with revised estimates for 2023-24 and final data for 2022-23. The numbers for 2024-25 were broadly in line with estimates released earlier, with GDP growth placed at 6.5%, marginally higher than the 6.4% reported as part of India’s first advance estimates.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Soon after Donald Trump won the presidential election in November, Xi Jinping asked his aides to urgently analyze the Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union. His concern, according to people who consult with senior Chinese officials, was that as President Trump gears up for a showdown with Beijing, China could get isolated like Moscow during that era.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. India's top B-schools, including Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A), are betting on external coaches and counsellors to help students ace the placements at a time when the job market has turned uncertain amid a slowing economy, set to be exacerbated by a trade war unleashed by US president Donald Trump.

China unlocked more stimulus on Wednesday and promised greater efforts to cushion the impact of an escalating U.S. trade war. Hours earlier, Germany's likely next government agreed on the biggest overhaul to fiscal policy since the country's reunification.

BEIJING — The undercurrent of China's annual parliamentary meetings this week is U.S. trade tensions — and how Chinese technology is offsetting that pressure.