Bill Ackman Suggests Trump May Postpone Tariffs to Allow for Deal-Making

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman, known for his support of the crypto industry in the aftermath of the FTX collapse, has raised the possibility that U.S. President Donald Trump could postpone the implementation of his controversial tariffs. The move would provide Trump with more time to negotiate deals, according to Ackman, founder of Pershing Square Capital Management.

Ackman Foresees a Potential Tariff Delay

In a post on April 5, Ackman suggested that the pressure on President Trump might lead him to delay the tariffs, which are scheduled to take effect on April 9. Trump had signed an executive order on April 2 establishing a 10% baseline tariff on all imports, with additional reciprocal tariffs aimed at countries with the largest U.S. trade deficits set to kick in soon after.

Ackman, a well-known market strategist, noted that Trump’s office must be receiving numerous calls in the wake of the tariff announcement. "One would have to imagine that President Donald Trump's phone has been ringing off the hook," Ackman remarked, acknowledging the complexities involved in the tariff rollout.

Source: Cameron Winklevoss

He continued, stating, “The practical reality is that there is insufficient time for him to make deals before the tariffs are scheduled to take effect." This, he explained, could prompt Trump to announce a delay, giving him the necessary breathing room to broker deals with international trading partners.

“I would, therefore, not be surprised to wake up Monday with an announcement from the President that he was postponing the implementation of the tariffs to give him time to make deals,” Ackman added.

The Economic Stakes of a Tariff Delay

The executive order signed by Trump has already made a significant impact on the financial markets. After the announcement, the U.S. stock market suffered a major downturn on April 4, shedding more value than the entire crypto market was worth at that moment. However, despite the negative market reaction, the crypto industry held up relatively better, which caught the attention of both supporters and critics of Trump’s approach.

Notably, Ackman has been an advocate of the crypto industry, famously declaring in November 2022 that “crypto is here to stay” after the collapse of FTX. He also pointed out that Trump’s decision to implement tariffs has captured global attention and is viewed as necessary to address what he called an “unfair tariff regime” that has harmed U.S. workers and the economy over the years.

Ackman warned that pushing ahead with the tariffs without additional time for negotiation could introduce significant uncertainty into the market, potentially pushing the U.S. economy into a recession. “The risk of not doing so is that the massive increase in uncertainty drives the economy into a recession, potentially a severe one,” he cautioned.

April 7: A Crucial Day in U.S. Economic History?

Ackman further emphasized that April 7 could become a pivotal day in U.S. economic history, with the potential for major shifts depending on whether Trump moves forward with or postpones the tariff implementation. A delay could not only allow Trump more time to make deals but also give businesses of all sizes the necessary time to prepare for the changes the tariffs will bring.

“April 7 will be one of the more interesting days in U.S. economic history,” Ackman stated, leaving markets and analysts on edge as they wait for Trump’s next move.

The possibility of a tariff delay is now a key point of speculation, with many watching closely for any signals that might emerge before April 9. How the situation unfolds could have far-reaching implications not only for the U.S. economy but also for global trade dynamics and financial markets.