Trump Threatens Again: “If the Fed Does Not Cut Rates, We Will Halt Trade With Some Countries”
- Input
- 2026-09-14 09:31:29
- Updated
- 2026-09-14 09:31:29
[Financial News] U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed on the 13th local time that the United States may have no choice but to halt trade with some countries with which it runs a deficit if the Federal Reserve does not cut interest rates.
Markets are watching for the possibility of a Federal Reserve rate hike based on factors including oil prices and the consumer price index (CPI). Trump, however, has once again mentioned the extreme measure of suspending trade, apparently stepping up pressure on the Fed to cut rates.
There is also speculation that if the Fed actually raises rates, Trump could apply intense pressure to countries running trade surpluses with the United States by wielding not only tariffs but also the option of suspending trade.
Just before departing Ireland for the United States, Trump met with reporters at the airport. Asked whether he would actually carry out the trade-suspension threat he made on Truth Social on the 4th, he replied, “Yes. I will do that with respect to some countries.”
He continued, “I have no choice. We do not want to run deficits with other countries. We want to run surpluses or at least have balanced trade,” emphasizing, “But previous presidents allowed massive deficits, and we will not tolerate that.”
Trump added, “So I will do that. It will take place over a period of time.”
On the 4th, Trump wrote on Truth Social, “If they don’t lower interest rates, we will stop trade with countries with which we are running a deficit,” urging a rate cut ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting scheduled for the 15th and 16th.
However, recent interest-rate futures markets have substantially increased the possibility of a Fed rate hike at this FOMC meeting. Attention is therefore focused on whether the United States will actually take the extreme step of suspending trade with specific countries following Trump’s remarks.
[email protected] International Affairs Specialist Lee Seok-woo Reporter