Trump waves tariffs like a remote control: swing markets and suspicions of manipulation

Tariffs announced and then suspended affect global stock markets. Billion-dollar swings in Europe

Donald Trump continues to use the tool of tariffs with extreme ease, generating shocks on the global financial markets. A sequence of announcements, denials, extensions and cryptic messages – often conveyed through his Truth platform – causes waves of selling and buying that move billions of dollars, with immediate and repeated effects on the main global stock exchanges.

The mechanism is now well established: Trump announces a tightening of tariffs, the stock markets plummet. Then he intervenes with an accommodating message, the markets rebound. This has happened several times before, but two recent episodes directly affect Europe.

The first dates back to 2 April, the day of the so-called ‘liberation day’ of duties, with a generalised collapse of the stock exchanges, followed by a 90-day suspension announced on 11 April. Just before the reversal, Trump published an unequivocal message on Truth: ‘It’s a great time to buy’. The markets respond with a quick reversal.

Same script on 23 May, when Trump raises the threat of 50% tariffs from 1 June against Europe. Again, the following night comes the about-face: extension granted until 9 July. Once again, the stock markets first plummet and then rise again.

It is enough to observe the performance of Piazza Affari to understand the economic scale of the phenomenon. From 2 to 9 April, the Ftse Mib fell from 38,554 to 32,730 points. Then it recovered up to 40,656 on 16 May. A new drop on 23 May to 39,475, followed by an ascent towards 40,000 points already in the following hours. Fluctuations that imply colossal losses and gains for those who move with timing.

‘The suspicion is that a lot of people are getting rich, that there is some kind of agiotage,’ said Italian “Action” party secretary Carlo Calenda. In light of the numbers and timing, the line between political strategy and market disruption appears increasingly thin.

THE LATEST NEWS

• International-News

Trump threatens the Wall Street Journal: ‘I never wrote that letter to Epstein’

18 Luglio 2025

The US president announces legal action against NewsCorp and Rupert Murdoch over an article about an alleged obscene letter sent...

Read More

• International-News

New Israeli raid near Sweida, Syria, after the withdrawal of government forces

17 Luglio 2025

The official Sana news agency reports an Israeli air strike on the outskirts of the predominantly Druze city. The raid...

Read More

• International-News

Donald Trump diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency: a common and benign condition

17 Luglio 2025

White House spokesperson confirms diagnosis after appearance of leg swelling and bruising. Presidential physician reassures public about former president's health...

Read More

• International-News

Trump opposes voting rights for 16-year-olds in the UK: a historic change sought by Starmer

17 Luglio 2025

The Labour government proposes to lower the voting age from 18 to 16 across the United Kingdom. Protests from the...

Read More

• International-News

Trump announces: ‘Coca-Cola will return to cane sugar in the US’

17 Luglio 2025

After pressure from the American president, the company seems ready to say goodbye to corn syrup Coca-Cola seems to have...

Read More

• International-News

Berlin prepares for war scenarios: plan for hospitals and civil protection ready

17 Luglio 2025

Twelve healthcare facilities involved in the emergency programme. Scenarios include armed conflict and evacuation of the capital The Berlin authorities,...

Read More

(Source and photo: © AndKronos)