📈 SigmaTrader Blog

  Was There a Hint About a Tariff Pause for China Before the Sudden U-Turn? The first week of April unfolded like a geopolitical thriller, with markets reacting wildly to conflicting messages from Washington and Beijing. But amid the chaos, was there a subtle signal—a hint—about a potential tariff pause before the dramatic escalation? Let’s recap the whirlwind: April 2 : The U.S. imposes a 34% tariff on China, sparking global headlines. April 4 : China retaliates with its own 34% tariff on U.S. goods. April 7 (Early Hours) : News breaks of a 90-day pause on tariffs. Markets soar on the hope of de-escalation. Minutes Later : The White House denies the report, calling it fake news . Later on April 7 : President Trump gives China one day to roll back its retaliatory tariffs. April 8 : With no response from China, the White House slaps an additional 50% tariff , raising the total to 84% . April 9 : China retaliates with an additional 50% , matching the 84% t...

🧩 Why Do the Tariffs End with “4”? As all we know the United States has implemented 34 % tariff on Chinese imports and in response, China has imposed its own tariffs on U.S. goods, including a 34 % tariff on all U.S. imports effective April 10, 2025. ​ And today White House says 104% additional tariffs on China took effect at noon. Collection starts tomorrow. And more interestingly why these tariff numbers end with magical "4"? 🎯 1. Numerical Symbolism in Chinese Culture In Chinese culture, the number 4 (四, "sì") is considered unlucky because it sounds very similar to the word for "death" (死, "sǐ") . So when tariffs end in 4% , it could be seen as a subtle jab or psychological tactic—especially if done by U.S. policymakers to signal economic "punishment" or a hardline stance. 🧠 2. Calculated Messaging Governments often use non-verbal cues in trade wars: Numbers Timing (e.g., applying tariffs on national holidays) Produ...