“Trade should not be a weapon”

Omaha, Nebraska – Warren Buffett on Saturday criticized President Donald Trump’s tough trade policy, not calling him directly, saying it was a big mistake to hit the feed rates on the rest of the world.

“Trade should not be a weapon,” said Buffett Berkshire Hethai‘s Meeting shareholdersAnnual gathering before thousands in Amakh, Nebraska. “I think that the more flowering the rest of the world, it will not be at our expense, the more flowering we will become, and the more safest it will be, and your children will feel if they are.”

Trade and tariffs “can be an act of war,” the legendary investor added. “And I think it has led to bad things. Just the relationships it is bred. In the US, I mean we have to look for the rest of the world and we have to do everything to us and they have to do what they do better.”

Buffett’s comments, its most direct, but at the tariffs, occurred after last month in the White House were the highest beating towards imports in generations, shocked the world, causing extreme volatility on Wall. Later, the president continued the sudden pause for a 90-day pause on most of the increase, except China, when the White House sought to conclude transactions with the countries. Pause somewhat stabilized the market.

However, this year, Trump hit the 145% tariffs on imported Chinese goods, which made China to impose at 125%. China said last week This assesses the possibility of launching trade negotiations with the US

Buffett explained that the protectionist policy could have negative consequences in the long run for the United States after becoming the leading industrial nation in the world.

“In my opinion, this is a big mistake when you have seven and a half billion people you don’t like, and you got 300 million that somehow wrap about how well they did – I don’t think it’s right and I don’t think it’s wise,” Buffett said. “The United States won. I mean, we became an incredibly important country, starting with nothing 250 years ago. There was nothing like that.”

Investors expected to hear from the 94-year-old “Oracle of Omaha” for his leadership on the transition of an uncertain macro-acopho, as well as evaluating the state of the economy. A huge range of insurance, transport, transport, energy, retailers and other enterprises, from Geico to Berlington to the North Queen, leave Buffett’s unique qualification to comment on the current health of the American economy. It was reported that in the first quarter of GDP was concluded for the first time since 2022.

Berkshire said in his Report of income in the first quarter that tariffs and other geopolitical events created “significant uncertainty” for the conglomerate. At this time, the firm stated that there was no potential effect on the tariffs.

Buffett is in defensive mode, selling shares for 10 straight quarters. In 2024, Berkshire dropped off shares worth more than $ 134 billion, mainly from the reduction of the two largest Berkshire shares – – – – – – – – – – – mostly a decrease – a decrease in Berkshire – – – – Apple and Bank of America. As a result of the sale of Spree, a huge pile of cash Berkshire grew another record, at the end of March at $ 347 billion.