NEW YORK, April 25 -- US President Donald Trump remained firm on launching sweeping tariffs on April 9 despite a US$6 trillion (RM26 trillion) stock market drop and global opposition.

However, within hours of the tariffs taking effect, a sharp sell-off in the US Treasury bond market alarmed investors.

Bloomberg reported that bondholders feared the tariffs would fuel inflation and reduce foreign appetite for US assets, prompting mass sales to pressure the White House.

Just 13 hours after implementation, Trump paused the tariffs, conceding, "The bond market is very tricky... I was watching it."

A plunge in bond prices raises yields, making it more expensive for governments to borrow and fund operations.

Sustained high yields threaten t...