Timeline
February 19, 2026 — February 26, 2026
World
Timeline: Trump's Global Tariff Policy and Market Turmoil (February 19-26, 2026)
This timeline tracks the turbulent week following the U.S. Supreme Court's rejection of President Trump's global tariff policy, his subsequent escalation of tariff rates, and the resulting impact on global markets and international relations. The story illustrates how trade policy uncertainty created significant economic volatility and strained diplomatic relations with Europe.
13 events · 7 days · 29 source articles
Thu, Feb 19, 2026
Minor
UK Royal Scandal: Prince Andrew Arrested
Former Prince Andrew was arrested in the UK on suspicion of misusing public office and taken from his Norfolk estate. King Charles stated that "the law must take its course," and police conducted searches at Royal Lodge. Andrew was released after 12 hours.
Fri, Feb 20, 2026
Major
U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Trump's Global Tariff Policy
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Trump's comprehensive global tariff policy. Trump responded by announcing he would continue to impose a 10% global tariff using different legal authorities, and criticized the court's decision. The ruling created immediate uncertainty in financial markets.
Fri, Feb 20, 2026
Moderate
Markets React Positively to Initial Court Decision
U.S. stocks closed higher on Friday following the Supreme Court decision, with the Dow up 0.47%, Nasdaq up 0.90%, and S&P 500 up 0.69%. However, Q4 GDP data came in far below expectations, showing economic slowdown and persistent inflation. Chinese concept stocks showed mixed performance.
Sat, Feb 21, 2026
Minor
Bangladesh Moves to Restore Indian Visas
Diplomatic sources confirmed that Bangladesh, under its new BNP-led government, was moving to normalize visa facilities for Indian visitors after halting visa issuance in December 2025 following protests and stone-pelting incidents targeting Indian missions.
Sun, Feb 22, 2026
Major
Trump Announces Tariff Rate Increase from 10% to 15%
President Trump announced he would raise the global import tariff rate from 10% to 15%, stating there would be more tariff measures to come. U.S. media reported that the new tariff policy would have adverse effects on economic growth, creating significant market concern.
Sun, Feb 22, 2026
Minor
India: PM Modi Launches Meerut Metro
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Meerut Metro and Namo Bharat train, inaugurating development projects worth approximately ₹12,930 crore. Modi also criticized Congress over protests at a global AI summit.
Mon, Feb 23, 2026
Major
U.S. Markets Plunge on Tariff Fears
U.S. stocks fell sharply on Monday with the Dow dropping over 800 points as Trump's increased tariff rates from 10% to 15% triggered concerns about inflation and economic growth. IBM stock crashed 13% due to AI disruption concerns. Bitcoin plummeted while gold prices rose as investors sought safe havens.
Mon, Feb 23, 2026
Major
European Parliament Suspends U.S.-EU Trade Agreement
In response to Trump's escalating tariff policy, the European Parliament suspended work on approving the U.S.-EU trade agreement. This marked a significant deterioration in transatlantic trade relations and increased pressure on U.S. markets.
Tue, Feb 24, 2026
Moderate
Chinese Markets Show Mixed Response
Chinese concept stocks mostly declined with the Nasdaq China Golden Dragon Index falling 0.95%. Notable drops included Futu Holdings (-5.55%), Kingsoft Cloud (-8.97%), and Trip.com (-3.01%), while NIO gained 4.54%. The tariff uncertainty particularly impacted technology stocks.
Wed, Feb 25, 2026
Moderate
Global Debt Hits Record $348 Trillion
The Institute of International Finance reported that global debt surged by $28.8 trillion in the previous year to reach a record $348 trillion, driven primarily by government investments in defense and AI technology. This represented the largest annual increase since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wed, Feb 25, 2026
Moderate
Trump Delivers State of the Union Address
President Trump delivered what was described as the longest State of the Union address in history, claiming to have ushered in a "golden age" for America and emphasizing economic achievements. However, recent economic data showed slowing growth and rising inflation, with his approval rating below 40%.
Thu, Feb 26, 2026
Moderate
UK-US Resume Technology Prosperity Agreement
London and Washington began preliminary work to revive the multi-billion pound "Technology Prosperity Agreement" focused on civil nuclear technology and joint fusion summits. The agreement had been shelved the previous year as Trump pressured the UK on broader trade negotiations.
Thu, Feb 26, 2026
Moderate
Ongoing Market Volatility and Economic Uncertainty
As the week concluded, financial analysts warned that volatility surrounding Trump's tariff policies would likely continue. Markets remained under pressure from the combination of AI disruption concerns, escalating trade tensions, and uncertainty about future tariff measures.
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