The United States and China Reach Landmark Tariff Reduction Agreement
The United States and China have reached a landmark agreement to reduce tariffs between the two countries for a duration of 90 days. This agreement has significantly impacted market expectations regarding the likelihood of an economic contraction in the U.S. by 2025. According to recent data, this likelihood has decreased to its lowest level in recent months.
U.S. Recession Expectations
In recent weeks, the chances of a U.S. recession by 2025 had approached 70% in the markets. However, following the agreement, this probability decreased to 40%. Market commentators note that the reduction in trade tensions between the two economies played a crucial role in this decline. Under the agreement, the U.S. reduced tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, while China reduced tariffs on U.S. imports from 125% to 10%.
This development signals a de-escalation in the trade conflict that has been causing global uncertainties for several months. The positive sentiment in the markets has led to a significant reduction in recession expectations.
The negotiations took place during high-level talks in Geneva, led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, with China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng representing the Chinese delegation. The mere concern of a recession has had negative effects on cryptocurrencies, and the mitigation of this risk is supportive for crypto markets.
U.S. officials have expressed their goal to establish a balanced trade relationship instead of economic divergence. Bessent stated that previous tariffs adversely affected trade for both parties, and the new agreement reflects a more constructive approach. The earlier tariffs acted effectively as an embargo, reducing trade volume.
At the beginning of the year, the chance of a recession was estimated at 71%, indicating a period of inflation pressures, supply chain issues, and global uncertainties. Moody’s economist Mark Zandi had cautioned about a potential downturn in the U.S., which also caused a decline in cryptocurrency prices.
Mark Zandi: “The probability of a recession in the U.S. caused significant market sensitivity.”
Reactions from Crypto and Financial Markets
The deal has created a positive atmosphere in financial markets. There have been rises in the Dow Jones and Nasdaq indices, while leading cryptocurrencies, such as BTC, saw rapid value increases. At the time of writing, BTC’s price was slightly down at $102,894, but there was a general increase in investor risk appetite.
Technical indicators show that the recovery continues, with market optimism potentially triggering new policy discussions and similar trade easing steps by other countries.
Following these developments, global investors and market actors are closely monitoring how this trade relief will affect economic outlooks and policy processes. Specifically, these stabilizing approaches among major economies lay the groundwork for easing recession concerns. The trade agreement has boosted confidence in the markets, encouraging investors to take on more risk. The cooperative atmosphere between the U.S. and China has led to activity in both traditional markets and the digital asset ecosystem.
