Another day, another deadline and another trade curveball from U.S. President Donald Trump just before the buzzer.
The tariff deadline was set for August 1. Markets were watching. Countries were calculating. And then, right before midnight, came another announcement: 40% tariffs on transshipped goods, new rates for dozens of nations, and yet another reshuffling of Trump’s trade playbook. All set to begin next week.
If this feels familiar, it’s because it is.
We’ve seen this before. In April, Trump stunned global markets with a blanket 10% tariff hike, followed by a pause, and then a partial reinstatement. The July 9 restart was delayed at the last minute and pushed to August 1. Each time, businesses scrambled. Leaders called Washington. Trade lawyers worked overtime. But the element of surprise remained.
This isn’t just erratic policymaking. It’s a signature Trump move.
