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China imposes tariffs on US imports triggering sell-off in European markets
European markets experienced a significant sell-off on April 4, 2025, following China's announcement of 34% retaliatory tariffs on US imports, raising fears of a global trade war. Major UK banks and global mining companies saw sharp declines, with Barclays, NatWest, and Lloyds down over 7%. The oil price also plummeted to its lowest since August 2021, prompting Goldman Sachs to lower its forecasts for crude prices amid escalating tariff tensions. Defensive stocks like SSE and British American Tobacco managed to rise amidst the turmoil.