Asian Markets Rise Amid Tariff Concerns; USAID Official Placed on Leave After Warning of Aid Cuts

Asian markets experienced gains on Monday, fueled by expectations of a significant stimulus package from China aimed at mitigating the impact of US tariffs. These tariffs, confirmed by President Trump, include 25% levies on goods from Mexico and Canada, and an additional 10% on Chinese goods. In other news, Nicholas Enrich, acting assistant administrator for global health at USAID, was placed on administrative leave on March 2, shortly after emailing staff about the detrimental effects of the agency's dismantling. Enrich's memo, dated February 28, stated that "political leadership" was hindering the delivery of humanitarian aid, potentially leading to preventable deaths. This contradicted assurances from Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Trump administration announced the cancellation of nearly 10,000 foreign aid grants and contracts, totaling approximately $60 billion. Enrich estimated that a year-long pause in USAID aid could result in a significant increase in malaria deaths, tuberculosis cases, and emerging infectious diseases.