Amid trade tensions, Trump's Tariff Hikes and Social Media Blasts Disrupt Global Trade Talks. In a week marked by economic turbulence and diplomatic unease, U.S. President Donald Trump has once again upended global trade talks this time by combining sharp tariff hikes with a stream of provocative late-night social media posts. The Trump administration's decision to double tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, along with escalating rhetoric aimed at Chinese President Xi Jinping, is sending shockwaves through ongoing negotiations with both China and the European Union.