ECB President Christine Lagarde addressed the public with a message that is rare for any central bank: “We’re doing just fine.” According to her, the current level of interest rates is just right — not too high, not too low, but exactly what is needed to maintain inflation stability and peace of mind in the markets.

Lagarde once again reaffirmed the ECB’s sacred benchmark — 2% CPI annually. The message was clear: we have reached it, we will keep it, and if needed, we will take action. What particular action was not specified, but the confidence in her tone was unmistakable.

Despite the broader global economic confusion, the ECB promises consistency and stability. Lagarde acknowledged that the weather in the global economy can change quickly, but in her words, Frankfurt is able to cushion the EU economy from external headwinds.

When asked where interest rates might go next, she responded diplomatically: for now, everything looks “strong and favorable”, at least enough to avoid any hectic moves. Since June 2024, the ECB has already cut the key refinancing rate eight times. Now, the time seems right to pause and take a breath.

Meanwhile, economists are speculating: if inflation is right where it should be, could we see one more rate cut before year end? But Lagarde evaded a straightforward answer.

It goes without saying, the burning issue of the euro’s forex rate versus the US dollar was raised. Lagarde dropped a hint that the single European currency has the potential to become the world’s leading reserve currency, but it will require a bit more effort from policymakers. Like any currency, the euro stands stronger when the economy is on a sound footing.

To sum up her speech, interest rates are put on hold, inflation is under control, and the euro has bullish long-term prospects.

Donald Trump has once again shaken up the global order with his proposal to impose 10% tariffs on BRICS countries. In theory, this move is meant to weaken Russia, Iran, and, just in case, half the developing world. However, according to British analysts, rather than taking a hit, Russia may quietly welcome the move as a strategic advantage.

The logic is simple. The current escalation between the United States and China plays directly into Moscow’s hands. The more friction there is, the easier it becomes for Russia to replace American suppliers in the global energy market. After all, Beijing has never been eager to buy oil from the US.

Moreover, rising prices for BRICS exports, ranging from raw materials to semi-finished goods, could be a windfall for Russian producers. The more expensive the imports, the stronger the case for boosting domestic output. Paradoxically, tariffs intended to punish could end up offering a helping hand.

If Washington goes further, disrupting dollar dominance or limiting SWIFT access, the BRICS nations already have backups in place. CIPS and SPFS, their respective payment systems, may lack polish, but they get the job done.

Finally, there is a geopolitical twist. If the targeted nations choose to unite, China could well lead an "anti-tariff alliance," potentially welcoming not only Russia but also EU countries upset with Trump's tactics. What started as a threat could evolve into a coalition.

If this scenario plays out, Trump's initiative may go down in history as a case where a shot aimed at the BRICS group backfired.

It looks like Germany has weathered the storm. Prices, which recently skyrocketed, have finally eased their pace. Analysts agree that the sharpest peak of inflation is over. However, they warn that this calm may be more of a pause than a permanent change.

Headline inflation currently hovers just above the coveted 2% mark, the gold standard for central banks. As always, however, the devil is in the details: inflation in the services sector remains stubbornly high, verging on what would be considered provocative by central bank standards.

Analysts are proceeding with caution. While the situation has stabilized, the foundation remains fragile. Service prices are rising, wage growth is slowing, geopolitical tensions are high, and the energy market is struggling.

The outlook for energy prices appears more optimistic heading into 2026, particularly with promised cuts to electricity tariffs. Still, in the grand scheme, this is more of a band-aid solution than a long-term fix.

Stripped of volatile swings in food and fuel prices, core inflation is indeed on a downward trend. Yet analysts caution against expecting a return to the "good old days" of 1% inflation and zero interest rates. The world has changed, as have the price tags.

Persistent inflationary triggers remain geopolitics, climate-related spending, the localization of production facilities, and ever-climbing domestic costs, ranging from defense to decarbonization. Each factor adds weight to the inflation scale.

According to analysts, another inflation shock is not on the horizon, but complacency would be premature. Germany may be entering a new phase where inflation no longer startles but does not retreat either. It simply lingers.

Sunday was a turbulent day: Donald Trump lashed out at Elon Musk, once his ally, but now, it seems, his main irritant on Truth Social. The cause was Musk’s initiative to create a third political party. Trump did not appreciate the idea and expressed himself in his usual manner: “It’s sad to see how Elon has gone off the rails,” the president noted, adding that third parties in the US are a path to "COMPLETE AND TOTAL CHAOS."

Along with this, Trump made sure to mention his “Big Beautiful Bill” that cancels the electric vehicle mandate — a direct blow to Tesla. Musk had previously claimed that this very bill could lead America to bankruptcy.

The cherry on top was a hint at a conflict of interest between Musk and NASA, suggesting that Musk is promoting a "close Democrat friend" there, which is allegedly "inappropriate."

The rift between Trump and Musk, which not long ago looked like a political alliance, has now officially entered the phase of a bitter feud. Interestingly, Elon Musk used to be one of the main financiers of Trump’s election campaign and later headed the Department of Efficiency in his administration. However, he ran the government agency until May. Afterwards, he went off the rails.

Now, Musk is serious about shaking things up with the intention of challenging the two-party system. The entrepreneur certainly does not lack courage, but the history of third parties in the US looks like a disappointment: the Libertarian Party has existed for decades, yet it has not asserted itself in Congress.

The question is open whether the world’s wealthiest person can rewrite the US political map. But one thing is clear — his efforts certainly will not be boring, especially his tweets on Truth Social.

On Sunday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump had what was officially described as a "very good exchange of views." What exactly that entailed remains a mystery left to the press office, but the phrasing sounded diplomatic enough.

On Monday, a European Commission spokesperson clarified the bloc's objective: the EU still aims to clinch a trade deal with the United States by July 9. The goal is to sidestep the pain of tariffs, which Brussels considers mutual and entirely avoidable.

"We want to reach a deal with the US. We want to avoid tariffs. We believe they cause pain. We want to achieve win-win outcomes, not lose-lose outcomes," the spokesperson told reporters during the Commission's daily briefing. This was an apparent reminder to Washington that dialogue is better than trade wars.

Meanwhile, the US administration remains unfazed. According to officials, reminder letters about the impending tariffs will be sent to all nations that fail to reach an agreement by the deadline. Starting August 1, there will be no turning back—the new tariff season begins, with no exceptions or extensions.

Washington has decided to simplify life for itself. Starting from August 1, a 25% tariff will be valid for all goods from Japan and South Korea with no clarifications, exceptions, or sentiments. Donald Trump announced this on his favorite social network, TRUTH Social, adding, “We just want fair trade. For now, it will be 25% for everyone.”

The reason is classic: a trade deficit allegedly caused by cunning barriers from the Asian side. To avoid any lengthy investigation, they decided to go with the principle “one rate — one size fits all.”

This is just a warm-up. In early July, Trump hinted that other figures could be applied to tariffs on Asian imports, ranging from 10% to 70%. It all depends on imagination. But the most important thing, as the president emphasized, is that it is “nothing complicated” and strictly “within reason.” This “reasonable” approach is already playing havoc with Asian markets.

Meanwhile, calm and diplomacy prevail in Brussels. European Commission representative Olof Gill assures that negotiations with the US are ongoing “at all levels” — from memoranda to agreement paragraphs. Europe still hopes that the tariff fever will pass without complications.

Macroeconomists at Capital Economics have re-emerged with a cautious yet caffeinated update. They expect the S&P 500 to climb in the near term but maintain a cautious stance on its longer-term trajectory.

According to their latest report, there is little standing in the way of further near-term gains, unless there are any surprises related to tariffs or corporate earnings. Analysts are pinning their hopes on the much-hyped "One Big Beautiful Bill" that just bulldozed its way through the legislative maze. The report says the bill is supposedly set to revitalize the US economy.

Despite concerns about the long-term state of public finances, the bill deftly avoids fiscal pitfalls. Tax breaks have been extended, and the debt ceiling has been raised by a whopping $5 trillion. 

According to Capital Economics, there is no longer any reason to panic about another debt-ceiling showdown, so the Treasury market can finally exhale. After all, $5 trillion is not pocket change.

Still, another twist looms on the horizon: long-term Treasury yields. A surge in yields could easily sour the mood across markets, unless it triggers a meaningful reduction in the equity risk premium. So far, that premium remains low by historical standards, but it is still higher than during the carefree days before the dot-com bubble burst. 

The cherry on top is artificial intelligence. According to analysts, a fresh wave of AI-driven euphoria could continue to push markets upward and reduce the risk premium even more. The days when merely mentioning "AI" sparked a rally might not be over.

As for corporate earnings, things remain relatively stable. Even with the occasional jitter in macro data, Capital Economics has not rushed to revise its May forecasts. The guiding principle appears to be: when uncertainty reigns, patience prevails

Against this backdrop, Capital Economics is holding firm on its year-end 2025 forecast for the S&P 500 at a modest 6,250 points, citing persistent risks, including trade tariffs and the uncertainties of earnings season.

By the end of 2026, however, analysts project that the index could hit a respectable 7,000 points. That said, their long-term optimism comes with a caveat: the current wave of AI enthusiasm may eventually lose momentum.

Elon Musk is now deeply involved in politics. On Sunday evening, Elon Musk, with his trademark humility, announced that his brand-new political party, named the America Party, intends to back Bitcoin. Why? Because fiat currency is “hopeless” in his view.

When a user on the X social media platform (formerly known as Twitter) asked whether his political brainchild would support Bitcoin, Musk responded with his usual flair: “Fiat is hopeless, so yes.”

It is common knowledge that fiat currency is money not backed by gold, chocolate, or even gasoline. Just paper that the government has solemnly declared to be “money.” Of course, the US leads the charge — the dollar is fiat too, albeit with global ambitions.

Musk’s announcement came just one day after he ceremoniously declared that the America Party had been founded. According to him, the goal is nothing short of shaking up the two-party system in the US and restoring “freedom” to the country. He wants to include such measures in his toolkit as cutting government spending, taming the deficit, and apparently teaching Washington the basics.

Against this backdrop, his latest verbal duel with Donald Trump looks particularly vivid. The president recently signed a government spending bill, which Musk described as a “disgusting abomination” with emotional overtones. Trump did not stay quiet, and — in his usual diplomatic manner — called Musk’s party “ridiculous” and Musk himself “off the rails.”

Incidentally, this is not Musk’s first attempt to turn his hand to government reform. He previously launched a project called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE — yes, like the dog-themed cryptocurrency), proposing ways to slash federal spending. After all, who better than a billionaire to teach the government how to save money?

So, while some print money, others launch parties and troll the economy on X. American voters, buckle up!

Elon Musk, the guy for whom launching rockets is like a morning cup of coffee, has decided to go a step further and launch something even more serious: a new political party with a patriotic name, the America Party. The announcement was made on Sunday, giving everyone time to digest the news.

The reason? In an online poll on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter), 65% of users gave a collective nod in favor of a new political force. In his straightforward manner, Musk concluded: “By a margin of 2 to 1, you want a new political party — and you shall have it!” He provided convincing reasoning: “When a country is being bankrupted by wasteful spending and corruption, that’s not a democracy — it’s a one-party state,” Musk declared. “The America Party is being created today to give you back your freedom.” This decision comes as no surprise on the back of the bitter feud between the entrepreneur and President Donald Trump.  

According to a Quantus Insights poll, Musk is not just flirting with the idea but wants to push it forward. 40% of Americans are at least interested in his initiative:

14% are sure they will support it;

26% say they are likely to support it;

38% are skeptical but still watching;

22% are undecided, still trying to figure out what is going on.

Musk’s announcement came right on the heels of a sweeping legislative package titled “One Big, Beautiful Bill.” Musk defined it as “insane” and responded to the president’s tax cuts law by creating a new political party.

The question is still open whether the America Party will field its own candidates in the 2026 elections or whether Musk is aiming for a broader political overhaul. But one thing is certain: he is betting on voter dissatisfaction with the stale bipartisan political system, left and right. Considering Musk already has millions of followers, rockets, electric cars, brain interfaces, and his social media platform still hot with hype, the US political scene may be about to get a major upgrade.

Last Saturday, OPEC+ concluded at its global headquarters for oil diplomacy that the world would need slightly more crude starting in August. The group of oil-exporting countries agreed to lift crude production by 548,000 barrels per day. 

This move marks another step in the alliance's cautious plan to return to pre-cut production levels. Eight seasoned oil producers, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, Kazakhstan, and Algeria, will gradually increase their output. Since April, these nations have been slowly rolling back their previous reduction of 2.2 million barrels per day. 

OPEC+ cites economic stability, improving market indicators, and shrinking oil inventories. In short, the backdrop is becoming favorable, with momentum building and global trends finally tilting in oil's favor.

The decision-making gained pace after some members overshot their production targets. This sparked a ripple of activity within the cartel as no one wants to miss their slice of the pie. So, production bumps were spread across the board, just enough to keep markets lively and partners aligned.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is once again in the hot seat. US President Donald Trump has ramped up pressure on the head of the central bank, relentlessly criticizing Powell and urging him to step down. Tough luck for the Fed chief.

Without mentioning his rival by name, Trump wrote on Truth Social, "'Too Late' should resign immediately!!!" The president has repeatedly attacked the Fed chair for what he calls "too late" interest rate cuts.

In the latest round of rhetoric, Trump cited comments from Bill Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, who called for an investigation into Powell's conduct. Previously, Powell had been accused of delivering "misleading" testimony to the US Senate regarding the planned reconstruction of the Fed's headquarters.

Against this backdrop, Pulte joined Trump's chorus of criticism, also calling on Powell to resign. He further backed the president's demands for immediate rate cuts.

Trump has long insisted that Powell should slash interest rates by 2-3 percentage points below current levels. In response, the Fed chairman has warned that the president’s trade tariffs could potentially stoke inflation. These inflation concerns are precisely what have kept the central bank from moving ahead with rate reductions.

Mounting attacks on the central bank chief have fueled worries that Trump could remove Powell before his term expires in May 2026. These concerns are not unfounded. According to a recent report, Trump has the authority to announce Powell's replacement early as a way to undermine the Fed chair's credibility.

A curious newcomer has shown up in the crypto market. Investors are scrutinizing a new memecoin – Useless Coin. Its most unusual feature is its name. However, according to the developers, Useless Coin is “the most honest coin and the first in the world that truly promises nothing.” Despite its absurdity, Useless Coin has drawn attention from several investors since its launch in May 2025. Between May 11 and June 30, this memecoin surged in price by more than 29 times!

As a result, the project's market capitalization surpassed $100 million. On the back of this growth, Useless Coin became the top-performing memecoin of the week in the second half of June.

By June 30, its market cap had exceeded $220 million. Isn’t it amazing how Useless Coin is smashing through every barrier in its path? As of now, the coin ranks 219th among all crypto projects by market capitalization, entering the top 250. Of course, it is still far from the top 100, but that could change.

According to its official website, the developers openly claim that the token promises zero utility, meaning “absolutely nothing”: no DeFi (decentralized finance), no NFTs (non-fungible tokens), and no staking. In fact, Useless Coin even “guarantees losses” to its holders! And yet, it is popular!

Experts give credit to the developers for cleverly playing on the idea of the “uselessness” of digital assets. They capitalized on the widespread opinion that many cryptocurrencies lack any real utility and can easily be scams. The creators also refer to JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon’s famous statement that “Bitcoin is useless.”

However, it's too early to jump to conclusions – Useless Coin is a red-hot project that has been trading for just a month and a half. In the meantime, it has logged a mind-blowing rally. Since May 13, it has surged by more than 1,823%. Its volatility is also high: the token's price has jumped by more than 9% every single day over the past five trading sessions.

When a memecoin shows such strong growth, it is clearly in a bullish trend. Currently, its price is significantly above the 50-day moving average. The RSI indicator is in the overbought zone, which usually signals a possible reversal. However, in the case of Useless Coin, this may not be particularly relevant due to several factors. First, it is the unique nature of the cryptocurrency. Second, it has been trading firmly up, but oscillators often give false signals. Third, the RSI has been overbought since June 9, but the token has grown eightfold since then.

At the moment, luck is on Useless Coin’s side, but the euphoria will not last forever. Any asset cannot only go up. At some point, investors and traders will look to take profits. In that scenario, a sharp correction is imminent, experts warn.

Despite its bizarre idea, Useless Coin continues to arouse investor interest. Some believe that its radical honesty about being “useless” is part of the appeal. Still, with the token already up 1,800%, a strong correction in the near future would not be a surprise.

Tesla stock has plunged below $300 apiece. The reason? A renewed clash between US President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The two parties have recently exchanged threats, reigniting old tensions. So, sparks have started flying once again. As a result, their conflict has entered a new phase, impacting Tesla’s stock price.

The other day, Tesla shares dropped below $300, losing nearly 6% in just one day. On June 30, they closed at $317 per share. Just a week ago, the stock was trading above $340.

Elon Musk, who once became a staunch supporter of Trump and even served as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), harshly criticized his boss’s latest tax bill, a piece of legislation the President has dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill. According to Musk, the bill pushes America toward "debt slavery" by raising the national debt ceiling.

Musk recently announced that he is ready to launch a new political party as soon as the controversial bill is passed. In response, Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social, telling the Tesla CEO to "go back to South Africa," and accusing him of setting a record for receiving government subsidies.

Reportedly, subsidies have become the main point of contention in this new conflict. Musk had pushed for the continuation of tax incentives for electric vehicles, especially for Tesla, as well as for renewable energy subsidies. However, the president dismissed these requests. In response, Elon Musk — already hit hard by sluggish EV sales — began openly criticizing the legislation.

Businessman Peter Schiff has made waves with his latest remarks, claiming that Bitcoin is harming the US economy and putting heavy pressure on the dollar. He believes that President Donald Trump is squandering national resources on the flagship cryptocurrency.

Schiff, a long-time proponent of gold investments and a vocal Bitcoin skeptic, recently said that the cryptocurrency’s record highs create only an illusion of value.

In his view, diverting capital from dollars into Bitcoin poses a serious threat to America’s economic foundations. Such moves erode demand for the greenback and undermine its status as the world’s reserve currency. “Selling the US Dollar to buy Bitcoin will actually place greater pressure on the Dollar,” he warned.

Schiff’s comments followed Trump’s praise of Bitcoin for easing pressure on the dollar, creating jobs in the United States, and gaining traction as a payment method. However, Schiff argued that the crypto market’s volatility and the risk of a sudden Bitcoin crash could result in substantial losses to America’s strategic reserves rather than generate profits.

Beyond his disagreement with the president’s stance, Schiff accused Trump of using digital assets as “a gimmick to court donors.” He claimed that the American leader backs Bitcoin in order to win the support of wealthy sponsors who rely on cryptocurrency.

Earlier, Schiff criticized Trump for hosting a gala dinner with top TRUMP memecoin holders, many of whom reportedly spent nearly $150 million to secure a seat at the event.

Notably, the US government does not plan to purchase Bitcoin directly with dollars. According to the executive order establishing a national BTC reserve, holdings are to be accumulated through confiscated cryptocurrency.

What a surprise move from the White House! On June 26, the US administration announced that the July 9 deadline set by the president for striking new trade agreements could be extended. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized, “The deadline is not critical.” Yet, to many observers, the entire process seems like a taunt.

The initial 90-day window for tariff negotiations, which began in April, has so far yielded only two deals: one with the United Kingdom and another with China. This temporary period was intended to encourage agreements with America’s key trading partners.

According to Leavitt, the current July 9 deadline could be adjusted. She reminded reporters that Trump has the authority to impose or modify retaliatory tariffs based on what he deems to be in the best interest of the United States and its workers.

Starting July 9, under the president’s plan, a baseline 10% tariff will apply to all trading partners. If no agreements are reached, retaliatory duties will increase further. Currently, talks are ongoing with most countries, including the European Union and India. Against this backdrop, the White House is considering extending the July timeline.

Earlier, Wall Street Journal analysts noted that EU countries are seeking ways to reduce tariffs on select American imports in an attempt to secure a quick trade deal with Trump.

The world’s first cryptocurrency still astonishes market participants. Bitcoin’s potential has been duly recognized by US authorities, including President Donald Trump. In a recent press conference at the White House, the American leader acknowledged the important role of Bitcoin in relieving pressure on the US dollar.

The US president affirmed that he fostered the creation of an industry that has become “strategically significant” for America. Trump believes that the recognition of cryptocurrencies in the US carries enormous geopolitical value. Besides, this initiative helps the US remain competitive in the global arena, the president summed up.

In Trump’s view, Bitcoin is increasingly integrating into the economy, as more and more people are using the first cryptocurrency for payments. Moreover, the majority of retail outlets in the US have begun accepting BTC as a means of payment for goods and services. “People are using Bitcoin more and more often. People are saying it takes a lot of pressure off the dollar. It is a great thing for our country!” the White House leader emphasized.

Previously, Trump said that he became a “fan of cryptocurrency” several years ago. However, he added that while he personally does not invest in Bitcoin, his family does invest in various crypto projects. When asked whether he is willing to halt his relatives’ cryptocurrency initiatives, the US president stated that his sons manage the portfolio and that he does not monitor their investments.

Interestingly, the president’s family launched a decentralized lending platform in 2024, World Liberty Financial (WLFI), with its own stablecoin called USD1. Later, the American leader introduced the TRUMP OFFICIAL token, and shortly thereafter, a coin called MELANIA showed up, dedicated to the First Lady of the US.

Recently, the president’s son Eric Trump suggested that Bitcoin could rise to $170,000 by 2026. He pointed out that Michael Saylor, ex-CEO of MicroStrategy, played a key role in the Trump family’s growing interest in crypto assets. MicroStrategy regularly purchases Bitcoin for long-term holding and capital growth.

Poor Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve Chairman! He has to overcome a long-running feud with the US president, withstand nasty remarks from Trump’s administration, and steer monetary policy amid Trump’s protectionist policy. Yet, the central bank chief forges ahead with high interest rates. The question is how much longer he can endure.

The likelihood that Fed Chair Jerome Powell will remain in office after his term expires in May 2026 is fading by the day. Recent comments from President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggest that a nominee could be unveiled well before Powell’s official term ends.

According to experts, this is a risky development. It creates a scenario in which a so-called “shadow Fed Chair” could effectively begin to take over even while Jerome Powell is still in office.

As reported by Bloomberg, Scott Bessent recently stated that the White House is open to appointing the next Federal Reserve chair as early as January 2026.

"There’s a 14-year seat opening up in January," Bessent emphasized. "So we’ve been thinking that maybe this person would become Chair when Jay Powell steps down in May."

Alternatively, the new chairman could simply be appointed in May, which would not interfere with Powell’s current duties, Bessent noted. However, for a potential Vice Chair or successor, this would mean a shorter two-year term.

According to Bessent, current Federal Reserve members are also being considered for the top job: "Obviously, there are people among the candidates who are already working at the Federal Reserve," he said. "If you add another one in January, the institution’s work continues as normal, and markets wouldn’t be confused."

Some analysts and market participants believe that Powell’s influence is already weakening. His once-unshakable authority has begun to erode with help from the White House.

"President Trump has succeeded in turning Fed Chair Jerome Powell into a lame duck," Louis Navellier at Navellier & Associates said. He also pointed to increased chatter from FOMC members, hinting at a possible rate cut by the end of July.

EU representatives are in a difficult position. They are willing to accept a universal 10% tariff on most goods exported to the United States. However, there is a catch. EU leaders are pushing hard for lower tariffs and exemptions for several sectors.

European authorities are seeking to persuade Washington to reduce tariffs on pharmaceuticals, alcohol, semiconductors, and commercial aircraft as part of any trade agreement.

In addition, European negotiators are demanding quotas and exemptions to lower Washington’s 25% tariff on cars and auto parts, as well as its sky-high 50% tariff on steel and aluminum.

Officials at the European Commission, which handles trade policy, argue that the potential agreement would favor the United States to some extent. “We are fully and deeply engaged in negotiations — a negotiated, mutually beneficial solution remains our preferred outcome,” European leaders noted in their report.

The EU now hopes to strike a trade deal with Trump before a crucial July 9 deadline, after which tariffs on nearly all European exports to the US are set to soar to 50%.

US President Donald Trump has delivered an unusual and rather ironic statement about the Japanese government. He declared that “Mr. Japan” is engaged in unfair trade practices with the United States.

According to the White House leader, if Japan fails to reach an agreement with the US, Washington will maintain a 25% tariff on Japanese cars.

Recently, Trump reproached the Japanese authorities for not buying enough American automobiles, while the US imports millions of vehicles from the Asian country. “It’s not fair,” Trump emphasized. He added that Japan could purchase more US oil and “a lot of other things” to help reduce the trade deficit.

Earlier, Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s economy minister and the country’s top trade negotiator, said that talks between Tokyo and Washington are “at a critical stage.” He has repeatedly called the US tariffs on imported cars unacceptable.

Akazawa also emphasized Japan's enormous contribution to the US economy, citing investments totaling over $60 billion and the creation of 2.3 million jobs. During the negotiations, the issue of 25% tariffs was raised again, with Japan’s economy minister describing them as a “huge blow” to the Japanese economy.

Just imagine — the US dollar has revealed its worst performance in half a century! Analysts have come to the conclusion that US President Donald Trump is once again to blame.

According to analysts at the Financial Times (FT), the greenback has slumped by 10% since the beginning of 2025. It is the sharpest drop since 1973. The main driver behind this collapse was President Trump's tariff policy. Amid trade wars initiated by the White House, the US currency fell by 10% against a basket of six major global currencies.

Experts at FT believe that the outcome of Trump’s tariff initiatives took markets by surprise. As a result, investors, facing market turmoil, flocked to European assets, pushing the euro up by 13%.

After a series of tariff hikes, market participants began speculating about a potential loss of the dollar's status as a reserve currency. However, the situation later stabilized, and the greenback reached a relative balance. Nevertheless, the fundamentals of the US dollar have been shaken. In the meantime, the dollar is no longer seen as a "safe haven." Market participants around the world rush to hedge their dollar-denominated assets, putting more pressure on the US currency.

There’s also an alternative view of the situation, which suggests that the dollar’s weakness, if not directly initiated by the Trump administration, still fits into a broader plan to eliminate the US trade deficit. According to this view, to minimize the “gaping trade deficit”, which amounted to $918 billion in 2024, a devaluation of the US dollar by 20–30% might be necessary. Implementing such a measure would take at least two years.

It is generally accepted that the American trade deficit is closely tied to the dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency and the US role as an exporter of reserve assets. Capital inflows typically support the dollar’s value despite a current account deficit, but the flip side of this process is the need to export US Treasuries to sustain global growth. This is precisely the issue criticized by Trump’s supporters, who argue that the overvalued dollar makes American exports less competitive. As a result, the country becomes increasingly dependent on foreign goods, including in areas critical to national defense.