US President Donald Trump is pressing on with his tariff agenda after a major setback from the Supreme Court, looking to use different avenues to enact the levies.
Trump will sign a directive in the coming days raising his global tariff to 15% “where appropriate” and is seeking “continuity” with nations that struck trade deals, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Wednesday.
Here are some of the charts that appeared on Bloomberg this week on the latest developments in the global economy, markets and geopolitics:
Over the last year, countries from Japan to the UK have given a lot to the US to secure relief from Trump’s tariffs. Now the tariff landscape has completely shifted, and many of the advantages of making a deal with Trump are gone.
Global debt accumulated last year at the fastest pace since the pandemic, driven by rising investment in national security. Japan, US, Italy, and France were among the advanced economies with the highest public-sector debt burdens. Considering that aging populations tend to work less and need more assistance, that’s a warning sign for the future.Israel, Botswana and Korea held interest rates steady. Thailand unexpectedly cut rates, while Hungary, Nigeria, Jamaica and Gambia also lowered borrowing costs. Kyrgyzstan raised rates.
Prices paid to US producers rose in January by more than forecast, fueled by services and pointing to lingering inflationary pressures. Margins picked up by the most in data back to 2009, likely reflecting companies passing along higher tariff-related costs at the start of the year.The messages arrive via WhatsApp and email, promising a deal that seems too good to be legal: a way to move goods from China to the US while avoiding US tariffs. The scale of the problem is staggering. Trade data released Thursday showed a record $112 billion gap between what China reported exporting to the US and what US Customs said actually arrived last year.
Spending by German consumers, businesses and the government sparked an economic recovery at the end of last year that’s expected to strengthen as the country invests heavily into infrastructure and defense.
Chinese automakers took a step backward in Europe, losing ground during January after capturing a record share of the region’s new-car sales at the end of 2025. The setback is likely to be temporary, after a year in which BYD, Omoda and Jaecoo cars became more common on roads from London to Rome and Madrid.
Chinese travelers set records for spending and trips taken during an annual holiday that ended Monday, a rare sign of improving consumer sentiment after the government boosted efforts to spur demand for goods and services.
Mexico’s economy slowed for a fourth consecutive year in 2025, as the country struggles to attract more investment and faces down both a large budget deficit and grinding trade uncertainty.
Most Venezuelans expect the economy and job market to improve within six months as the US eases sanctions and the government rolls out reforms to attract investment. A new AtlasIntel survey conducted for Bloomberg News found 58% of respondents expect to be able to purchase more goods in the next six months, even as more than half said their families are currently facing a difficult economic situation.
The way Argentina’s president and some of the world’s biggest miners see it, all that stands between them and billions in copper riches are hunks of icy rock and overzealous legislation.
Source Name : Economic Times