U.S. trade partners reach agreements as Trump presses tariffs

President Trump's tariff threats have pushed several longtime U.S. trading partners to accelerate deals with each other, including recent EU agreements with India and Mercosur, while investors and some central banks have reduced dollar holdings.

President Trump's tariffs over the past year have led several longtime U.S. trading partners to seek trade arrangements with each other. Countries and trading blocs have accelerated negotiations that in some cases had been ongoing for years. The article reports that investors and some central banks are reducing dollar holdings and increasing purchases of gold as part of a broader repositioning. Key points: - The EU announced a long-awaited trade pact with India and recently moved forward on a separate deal with Mercosur after decades of negotiation, and those agreements were accelerated amid U.S. trade pressure. - Analysts and former U.S. negotiators say partners are diversifying trade away from the United States in response to repeated U.S. tariff threats and unpredictable policy moves. - The piece notes that some governments and institutions are cutting use of certain U.S. digital services, and that central banks and investors have trimmed dollar holdings and bought gold, contributing to a weaker dollar versus some currencies. - The White House disputed claims that U.S. standing has declined; President Trump also announced on social media a separate U.S.-India arrangement and businesses are awaiting official White House documents spelling out its details. Summary: These developments are reported to be shifting trade links and financial flows away from sole reliance on the United States and are already visible in currency and asset markets. Businesses and legal analysts are awaiting formal documents on the U.S.-India announcement, and some governments are preparing or pushing legislative steps tied to negotiated agreements.