Tariff Blow‑Up: US Excludes Russia & Belarus from the Heat
What’s the Deal?
The White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the U.S. is keeping Russia and Belarus out of the latest tariff siege because existing sanctions already hinder any meaningful trade with those nations. In addition, Cuba and North Korea were also left out of the chopping block.
Trump’s Tariff Bombs & Market Shockwaves
Former President Donald Trump launched “reciprocal tariffs” worldwide, sending global stock markets into a tailspin. The EU felt the sting of higher levies, while overseas indices plunged.
- FTSE 100: down 122.4 points (1.4%) after opening
- DAX & CAC 40: each over 2% drop
- Hang Seng: 1.5% lower
- Nikkei: almost 3% fall
Future Outlook for U.S. Indices
The S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq are expected to open substantially lower with steep declines. Investors have rushed to the safe haven of gold, which is hitting new highs, and the pound has risen against the dollar.
Advisor Says: “Don’t Retaliate”
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News:
“My advice to every country right now is don’t retaliate. Sit back, take it in, and see how it goes. If you don’t retaliate, this is the high‑water mark.”
In short: massive tariffs, global market shock, and the call for calm—keep your cool and let the aftermath play out.
