President Suspends Most Tariffs for 90 Days, Raises China Rate to 125%
While attending a packed North America Night party at Teatro Gerolamo—the oldest theater in Milan—I received breaking news: the U.S. President had paused new tariffs for most nations. The timing couldn’t have been more electric. Hosted by Novita, Deltalight, and others, the event buzzed as phones lit up with alerts about the dramatic shift in U.S. trade policy. Even the liquor seemed to flow faster.
The president announced a 90-day suspension of new tariffs for key trading partners, reducing most rates to a flat 10%. The goal was to give time for renegotiating trade deals. At the same time, the administration raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 125%, citing Beijing’s retaliatory tactics and long-standing trade imbalances.
An Electric Evening at Euroluce
This was arguably the party of Euroluce 2025. With 450 to 500 guests, the atmosphere was lively and optimistic. I had the chance to catch up with lighting industry leaders like Josie Anthony of LODES, Charles Stone of FMS, Teal Brogden of HLB Lighting Design, David Ghatan of CM Kling, Dean Skira, and Courtney Mark of Studio Mark.
Christine Abate, founder of Novita PR, opened the night with a heartfelt welcome. Her remarks celebrated design as a global language and emphasized the strength of community, creativity, and collaboration in the design industry. The theme—“Not Lost in Translation”—felt especially relevant as people from across borders came together to share ideas and celebrate design’s ability to unite.
Tariff Talk and Market Response
During the party, David Ghatan and I discussed the implications of the tariff news. He noted that most lighting drivers are manufactured in China. We both agreed that the U.S. and China will hopefully and eventually reach a new deal—possibly before the 90-day window expires. David also shared details of a nearly completed project in Miami that I look forward to covering soon.
Back at the hotel, I checked the markets. Wall Street had responded immediately. The S&P 500 surged 9.5%, while the Nasdaq jumped over 12%. Analysts attributed the rally to renewed optimism around trade. Countries benefiting from the pause include key U.S. allies and partners that haven’t retaliated with counter-tariffs.
Final Thoughts
While the situation is still developing, one thing is clear: the tariff pause has sent ripples across the global economy—and across the lighting industry. With negotiations on the horizon, and optimism in the air, the next 90 days could reshape international trade in a major way.
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