Global stocks extended losses and bonds rallied after China ratcheted up global trade conflict by hiking tariffs on US imports.
S&P 500 stock futures sank 2.2%. Europe’s equity index tumbled 4%, wiping out all gains for this year.
Beijing will impose a 34% tariff on all imports from the US starting April 10, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.
The move shows US trade partners are hitting back at President Donald Trump’s sweeping trade-tariff hikes, in what could be a severe setback for the world economy that’s already showed signs of softening.