Global Markets Turn Defensive as Trump’s Tariff Threats Shake CoGold FuturesCOMEX_DL:GC1!World-SignalsGlobal Markets Turn Defensive as Trump’s Tariff Threats Shake Confidence. U.S. President Donald Trump has announced he is considering a “massive increase” in tariffs on imports from China, signalling a possible escalation in the long-running trade dispute between the world’s two largest economies. In response, Beijing has vowed to impose countermeasures should Washington proceed with the proposed 100% tariffs, defending its recent export rules while warning that such moves would further raise tensions. A high-level meeting between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping — expected on the sidelines of the APEC leaders’ meeting in South Korea later this month — now appears uncertain, with Washington’s recent rhetoric jeopardising the diplomatic groundwork for the summit. Markets are already reacting. Investors have been shifting capital toward safe-haven assets, with gold and silver among the biggest beneficiaries of the risk-off move. Gold notably pushed past the $4,000-per-ounce mark amid the turmoil, underscoring strong demand for protection against trade-driven volatility. According to World-Signals analysis, with gold prices holding above $4,000 per ounce, any correction toward $3,950–$3,975 is likely to trigger fresh buying interest. As geopolitical strategy increasingly intersects with resource control — from oil to rare earth elements — the global economic balance may be entering a new phase of heightened volatility. Traders and portfolio managers should watch tariff announcements, export-control actions on critical inputs (including rare earths), and developments around planned diplomatic meetings for signs of market direction.