What the US-China Trade Agreement Means for Markets

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (Image: Getty)

Tue, 13 May 2025

By James MackintoshThere’s more to Monday’s soaring stocks than the pause in crushing China tariffs.The temporary lifting of triple-digit trade levies between China and the U.S. while trade talks get under way removes the threat of an immediate stagflationary hit to the economy. This is very good news.It goes much further than investors thought possible—not least because on Friday President Trump suggested an 80% tariff “seems right.” The current deal reduces the extra tariffs on China to 30%, made up of the b...

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