[HONG KONG] Asian markets mostly rose on Thursday on optimism that governments will hammer out deals to avoid the worst of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs even after he broadened his range of measures.
Negotiators from around the world have tried to reach agreements with Washington since Trump in April unveiled his “Liberation Day” tariff bombshell, with a July 9 deadline recently pushed back to August 1.
Letters have been sent in recent days to more than 20 trading partners – including Japan and South Korea – setting out new tolls, with some higher and some lower than the initial levels.
The US president also said this week he would put a 50 per cent tariff on copper imports, while considering a 200 per cent charge for pharmaceuticals.
However, analysts said the threats are largely being seen as negotiating tools, and investors have increasingly taken them in their stride, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq hitting all-time highs…
