Brazil and India's revolt against Trump's tariffs and orders

Lula's Brazil expected it, as did India, which is too tied to Russian oil. The Swiss government does not want to believe it and is trying to reopen negotiations. In Canada, they are now resigned to the moods of their powerful and unwieldy neighbour. The tariffs, so-called reciprocal, decided by Donald Trump 'to revolutionise global trade', all in favour of the United States, have affected differently the different partner countries, friendly and less friendly, open to negotiation or hard to convince. The president of the new America never leaves one indifferent, but the governments of the world - even those showing signs of resistance - have done everything to mask the difficulties and react cautiously to the announcements. Trying to reopen dialogue on the new tariffs that will come into effect any day now.

The European Union is still waiting for details to be worked out in Washington that could make a difference in the trade agreement with the US: it is starting from a basic tariffs of 15% but it remains to be seen what will happen to American imports of cars, steel, medicines and wine. For China, the situation is even more confusing: after an escalation in which he went so far as to threaten tariffs at 145%, Trump had to agree on universal tariffs at 10% (on top of the 20% due to fentanyl): Xi Jinping has used strategic minerals to force the US to negotiate, but many aspects are still at the centre of the talks between the two great powers. Meanwhile, Taiwan, sacrificed by the US so as not to displease China after having been one step away from an agreement, has been the loser in the confrontation between Washington and Beijing.

Uncertainty is the dominant feature of Trump's trade policies, which have disrupted economic relations and trade practices. And so far he has also achieved, at least in part, what he set out to do: real average US tariffs have risen from 2.2 to 18.3 per cent in just a few months. Perhaps the US president's nickname Taco, Trump Always Chickens Out does not do the US president credit: it is not entirely true that Trump always backs down, on trade he has made a few twists and turns but at least the tariffs have finally come in.

Global markets have reacted badly to the new barriers to trade. It is uncertainty that makes the difference, also in the work of the administration. Rumours from the White House tell of a Trump undecided to the last on which trade partners to punish and which to spare. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer spent long hours in the Oval Office working out plans, more or less finalised. Which did not please everyone, quite the contrary.

Switzerland is seeking a negotiated solution that is compatible with both the Swiss legal system and international obligations. "The Federal Council notes with great regret that, despite the progress made in the bilateral talks and the very constructive attitude taken by Switzerland from the outset, the United States intends to impose additional unilateral tariffs of a considerable amount," the Berne government announced, explaining that the 39% imposed by the US, citing the excessive trade deficit, "deviates considerably from the draft joint declaration of intent".