Donald Trump 'playing poker' with 90-day tariff pause as he 'waits to see who folds'

is "playing poker with the world's economy," a financial expert has said after the US President announced a 90-day pause on his . The pause in tariff increases comes amid growing pressure from financial markets, which had begun to react negatively to Mr Trump's proposed measures.

With stock and bond markets showing signs of distress, Mr Trump's 90-day delay has sparked a debate over whether the President is backing down or simply recalibrating his approach. Some analysts argue that the delay signals a shift in strategy as Mr Trump reassesses the impact of his tariffs on global trade and the US economy.

Richard O'Connor, Director at First Mats, described Trump's move as part of a broader strategy, noting that it is not a sign of weakness but rather a calculated decision to "see who will fold".

According to Mr O'Connor, Trump is using the threat of tariffs to force other nations back to the negotiating table, betting that the rest of the world will feel the pain more than the US.

However, not everyone agrees with this interpretation. Some market experts believe that Mr Trump has blinked in the face of mounting economic pressure.

Rob Gill, Managing Director at Altura Finance, remarked that Trump had experienced his "Liz Truss moment," when he was forced into reversing a policy by the harsh reaction of the markets.

Mr Gill's comments echo the sentiments of many who believe that the equity markets and bond markets exposed the unsustainability of Mr Trump's tariff plans, forcing him into a strategic retreat.

Harry Goodliffe, Director at HTG Mortgages, also suggested that the 90-day pause is a sign that Trump has caved. He said: "Trump caved - and the markets noticed.

"After weeks of tough talk and market chaos, pressing pause now doesn't exactly scream confidence.

"Whether you back the policy or not, businesses need consistency. You can't plan for the next month, let alone the next year when the rules keep changing."

Scott Gallacher, Director at Rowley Turton, echoed these concerns, arguing that Mr Trump's move was a response to the immediate chaos his tariffs had unleashed in the markets.

He said: "Even Trump couldn't ignore the market collapse, let alone huge overnight price rises to the US consumer due to his ridiculous tariffs. Even he had to relent, or Congress would have taken action."

David Stirling, Director at Mint Mortgages & Protection, reflected on the sense of uncertainty surrounding the pause, questioning whether Mr Trump had miscalculated or was simply testing his limits.

He said: "It's hard to know whether Trump thought everyone would simply roll over and allow his tariff travesty to go through unchecked or whether he was just chancing his arm."

Mr Stirling added that the ongoing volatility in the markets, driven by concerns over Trump's economic policies, would not be resolved by the 90-day pause alone.

Tony Redondo, Founder of Cosmos Currency Exchange, pointed out that while the bond markets had not directly forced the billionaire's hand, they had amplified the chaos caused by his tariffs. He noted that the US Treasury yields had dipped significantly, reflecting a broader flight to safety by investors.

Mr Redondo said: "Trump's no bond nerd, but the author of the book 'The Art of the Deal.' Trump reads panic-stocks surging 7% post-pause shows he dodged a deeper meltdown." He argued that while Mr Trump had not completely backed down, he had stepped back strategically to maintain leverage in his negotiations.

In his public statements on Tuesday, Mr Trump continued to frame the tariff pause as part of his broader economic strategy. He maintained that the 90-day delay would allow the US to assess the impact of the tariffs on global trade and give countries time to negotiate.

Mr Redondo suggested that his decision to pause the tariff increases was a prudent move that would ultimately strengthen America's position in future negotiations.

The European Union on Wednesday confirmed it, too, would pause its retaliatory tariffs on the US for 90 days,

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has confirmed.

The bloc's top official said she was keen to give negotiations with Mr Trump a chance.

Posting on X, she said: "We took note of the announcement by President Trump. While finalising the adoption of the EU countermeasures that saw strong support from our Member States, we will put them on hold for 90 days."

However, she warned: "If negotiations are not satisfactory, our countermeasures will kick in. Preparatory work on further countermeasures continues. As I have said before, all options remain on the table."