Outside the Beltway

Outside the Beltway

Markets React Poorly to Trump’s Trade War

Way to go, pro-business party!

Steven L. Taylor
33

Via Yahoo! Finance: The Dow plunges 500 points because now Trump’s trade war is real.

Shortly after the market opened, the Dow fell by 558 points, or 1.25%. The S&P 500 lost 1.6%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq shed 2%. Moreover, Bitcoin dropped to $95,000 as it has grown highly reactive to President Trump’s actions. The CBOE Volatility Index, a popular metric to judge the market’s expectations for volatility over the next 30 days, was up 21%.

I don’t know where to begin?

Should I note that this is utterly man-made?

Should I note that these tariffs will not produce their alleged aims in terms of drug and immigration’s?

Should I ask Trump voters why they thought this man was the best one for the economy?

Should I wonder to the clouds why the so-called pro-business party is supporting this nonsense?

Should I note, yet again, that tariffs are taxes and that the GOP claims to be, above all else, anti-tax?

See, also, the BBC, Markets slide as Trump’s tariff war escalates.

Shares in Europe and Asia have fallen after US President Donald Trump announced tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, and said tariffs on the EU would “definitely happen”.

The German and French stock markets were down about 2%, with shares in carmakers among the worst hit, while London’s FTSE 100 dropped more 1%.

Heckuva a job, Trumpie!

And heckuva a job Trump voters.

Thanks for all the chaos.

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33 responses to “Markets React Poorly to Trump’s Trade War”

  1. Jim White 32 Avatar
    Jim White 32

    Their position? This is Trump’s sneaky long term play to get Manufacturing back in the United States, which will bring back jobs.

    The market is/are globalist thugs who have ripped off America. They love the market drop. It’s punishing Dems & Rinos of the Uniparty, and Globalists

    3
  2. Matt Bernius Avatar
    Matt Bernius

    @Jim White 32:

    Their position? This is Trump’s sneaky long term play to get Manufacturing back in the United States, which will bring back jobs.

    How will this result in jobs returning to the US in industries where there is no current manufacturing? And what evidence do you have that Trump’s tarriffs in 2016 led to repatriation of manufacturing?

    And what’s the timeline for that? Curious to understand how long it takes to set up manufacturing in the US?

    That’s before we get to the point that unless all aspects of supply chain manufacturing move back to the US, tariffs are still affecting the prices of American Manufactured good (including all those goods that claim to be “American made” but are actually just “American finished).

    4
  3. Scott F. Avatar
    Scott F.

    Should I note that these tariffs will not produce their alleged aims in terms of drug and immigration’s?

    I guess you might need to note that these tariffs won’t rescue US manufacturing or defeat the Unityparty or Globalists. OMG.

    6
  4. Neil Hudelson Avatar
    Neil Hudelson

    @Matt Bernius:

    I think Jim is just being descriptive of what the troglodytes think is going on.

    16
  5. Modulo Myself Avatar
    Modulo Myself

    Well, they’re on hold with Mexico for a month. Meaning, I guess they will never happen.

    This is like the first administration, but fast forwarded and dumber. It’s like the reason filters have been extended into the hands of other countries, rather than his nearest advisors, who no longer function as humans. With the tariffs, there’s nothing China, Mexico, or Canada can do to help America with its public health issues. They know it, and maybe he knows it.

    I’m guessing Canada and China will have the same ‘deal’ and then another Trump-like thing will happen, equally stupid, all while the crazies break the actual government.

    6
  6. Rob1 Avatar
    Rob1

    Canada’s Chrystia Freeland, former finance minister running to replace Trudeau, is suggesting 100% tariff on Teslas in retaliation for for Trump-Musk 25% tariff on Canadian goods.

    Canada has over 50,000 Teslas on its roads, ranking 4th on a list of foreign countries patronizing that brand.

    China, which tops that list with over 600,000 Tesla owners, has a measly 10% slapped on its exports by the Trump-Musk administration, even after so much bluster from the senior member of that duo.

    America and the world can expect policies of such bad optics cloaking the self interest of this administration for the next 4 years.

    https://www.ft.com/content/f177fcbe-d632-4685-8541-ac537ba227f6

    https://roadgenius.com/cars/ev/statistics/sales-by-automaker/tesla/#:~:text=Which%20regions%20contribute%20the%20most%20to%20Tesla's,the%20volume%20compared%20to%20the%20top%20markets.

    5
  7. Jen Avatar
    Jen

    @Jim White 32:

    This is Trump’s sneaky long term play to get Manufacturing back in the United States, which will bring back jobs.

    This is ridiculous and shows a complete lack of understanding of how…anything works. Crashing the market and tariffs both take money out of the pockets of Americans, reducing their spending power. So, first of all, he’s wrecking the ability of people to buy things in a consumer-based economy. Second, manufacturing depends on availability of materials, a labor supply, and markets. Sourcing materials also depends on a labor supply, and distribution. Those are mostly overseas, so, Trump has effectively destroyed (through tariffs) that aspect. And, manufacturing facilities don’t spring up like mushrooms, even assuming that everything else is good (which, as I’ve just noted, it very much isn’t), it could take YEARS to site, design, equip, and build even a handful of manufacturing facilities. Same issues with retooling old ones–technology has changed, so just flipping the lights back on in an old factory won’t cut it.

    I’m always surprised, although by now I shouldn’t be, by the utter lack of comprehension by Trump’s followers of even the most basic ways in which our economy works.

    7
  8. Steven L. Taylor Avatar
    Steven L. Taylor

    @Neil Hudelson: Agreed.

    2
  9. Matt Bernius Avatar
    Matt Bernius

    @Neil Hudelson & @Steven L. Taylor:
    Thanks for the call in.

    @Jim White 32: Apologies. I totally missed the “Their position?”…

    It’s been a 14 days for those of us who believe in and work around the Federal Government. And stress doesn’t help my reading comprehension.

    6
  10. Rob1 Avatar
    Rob1

    @Jim White 32: Trump and Musk and Thiel and all the other wealth nodes pushing Trump’s agenda are all closeted globalists. They just want greater control of the mechanism for themselves.

    5
  11. Rob1 Avatar
    Rob1

    Investors are betting Musk and Tesla will make a fortune under Trump even as threats mount.

    “It’s going to be a golden age for Tesla and Musk,” said Wedbush Securities financial analyst Dan Ives, adding after an investor conference call Wednesday, “This is the bullish I’ve ever heard Musk.”

    https://apnews.com/article/musk-tesla-trump-earnings-china-regulation-tariffs-a40f377d4f7f82ab3363dd6b7119a240

    There oughta be a law…

    2
  12. Jim White 32 Avatar
    Jim White 32

    Psssst- I see my handle disguise is successful. If any internet ICE shows up–Jim Brown 32 was already deported

    18
  13. Jc Avatar
    Jc

    Mexico has capitulated. That will be a win for him. I really don’t understand why he is going after Canada though. Does not make sense. Never hear anything about Canadian border issues. Prepare yourselves for “threatening your allies with trade wars” as ‘smart policy’ and other spin now…

    1
  14. Eusebio Avatar
    Eusebio

    There’s some combination of trump being simple, and speaking in simple marketing terms for the populace. Stock market prices and fuel prices are simple numbers. Stock market indices are familiar to those who follow them at least somewhat and are always available to check; they’re sometimes in front of us when we aren’t looking for them. Fuel prices are literally up in lights nearly everywhere we travel. Food prices and housing prices are more complex, and only matter to him when they can be used to his advantage. Healthcare costs are very complex…and he doesn’t give a rat’s ass about them.

    We saw trump back down on Canadian energy tariffs a couple of days ago. A 25 percent increase in Canadian crude oil prices would’ve been noticeable at the pump over much of the country, but a 10 percent increase could get lost in the normal fluctuations at the pump. The 25 percent tariffs on everything else would be a fiasco, including an automotive supply chain issue ranging from difficult to nightmare. So he’s got to find an excuse to back down some, but not necessarily all the way. He’ll probably keep poking our trading partners in the eyes and extracting whatever he can claim as victories, and we’ll see how the stock market reacts as that goes on.

    3
  15. Matt Bernius Avatar
    Matt Bernius

    @Jc:

    Mexico has capitulated.

    I’m not sure they really capitulated in any meaningful way. It seems like they did the exact same thing when Biden pushed them to act on the border. See: https://x.com/bdquinn/status/1886460371155763627

    11
  16. DK Avatar
    DK

    @Matt Bernius:

    It seems like they did the exact same thing when Biden pushed them to act on the border.

    I like presidents who didn’t get booed by Cananda.

    7
  17. Gustopher Avatar
    Gustopher

    @Jim White 32: And here I was thinking that our hosts really need to create and enforce a “no handles too close to someone else’s” policy.

    (The Joe vs. joe issue a few months ago has radicalized me on the subject. A gentle request that escalates to a ban hammer, on a case by case basis)

    Anyway I’m glad you’ve chosen to be white. You’ll find that being white is a lot easier than being brown in this country.

    4
  18. Jc Avatar
    Jc

    @Matt Bernius: Thanks Matt, yeah, wonder if Trump knows that or just pockets it as a win in his mind? Markets have shrugged as well, like even as these things happen people don’t take it as serious as they should. Would they have if it came from someone else? Bizarro World is new norm. I still don’t understand the Canada part, is it purely spite?

  19. Rob1 Avatar
    Rob1

    @Jc: More like a reprieve, or momentary pause. Mexico is too tantalizing a scapegoat for Trump. His erratic nature compounds the situation.

    2
  20. Min Avatar
    Min

    @Jc:

    I don’t think Mexico has capitulated. But I guess, most of his MAGA ppl will see it that way. Just as they have been cheering for the tariffs.

    And Canada… It seems like he’s ‘serious’ about “the 51st State”.

    2
  21. Min Avatar
    Min

    @Rob1:

    It’s going to be a long, looong four years. And I am being optimistic, hoping there will be elections in 4 years.

    6
  22. JohnSF Avatar
    JohnSF

    Incidentally, the dollar is up, and, of course, MAGA is cheering that much winning.
    And not stopping to ask why?
    The answer being, if the tariffs and deportations go ahead, the US is looking at prices rising, and very tight labour market.
    Therefore, the Fed is likely to raise interest rates.
    Likely triggering a Trump rage, and an executive vs the Fed crisis.
    At the same time a US goods become less competitive globally and other countries are less able to earn dollars.
    Can you spell Smoot-Hawley?

    7
  23. Grumpy Realist Avatar
    Grumpy Realist

    I wonder is the President of Mexico is promising Trump this increase, knowing damn well it’s all Kabuki and won’t do anything.

    4
  24. CSK Avatar
    CSK

    The tariffs on Canada have been paused for 30 days.

    1
  25. Connor Avatar
    Connor

    I’m embarrassed for you, Taylor. That’s a retail level, trite reaction to equity valuations.

    One day? Actually, things recovered intraday.

    More importantly, Trump is simply negotiating. Please tell me you have at least a diminimus level of sophistication.

    For 40 years we have de-industrialized, in sympathy with the mercantilist policies of many countries. It has come at great expense to US citizens, and the country. To rectify it will come with cost and pain.

    It must be done. Not everyone is insulated by being a college professor, who can pontificate without consequence.

    2
  26. Gustopher Avatar
    Gustopher

    @Connor: ever been on a bus when an erratic and smelly man who has shit his pants boards and then starts yelling and trying to talk to people and sporadically barking?

    That’s not negotiating.

    14
  27. Scott O Avatar
    Scott O

    @Connor:

    “One day? Actually, things recovered intraday.”
    My guess? The markets decided that the tariffs won’t happen after Trump capitulated.

    “More importantly, Trump is simply negotiating. Please tell me you have at least a diminimus level of sophistication. ”
    Please be charitable to those of us that are not as intelligent as you. You’re probably, in your opinion, one of the smartest people in the world. Right?

    5
  28. Steven L. Taylor Avatar
    Steven L. Taylor

    @Connor: Help a poor brother out and explain how getting Mexico to send additional troops to the border leads to more domestic manufacturing.

    I am too slow to see the connection.

    10
  29. Rob1 Avatar
    Rob1

    @Connor:

    For 40 years we have de-industrialized,

    —- No we haven’t. The U.S. is still plenty industrialized. It just looks different and is trans-national. (Oops, trans!)

    ….. in sympathy with the mercantilist policies of many countries.

    Also nope. We have responded to internal economics and cultural vectors, and technological progression… just like much of the rest of the world.

    In fact, it’s kinda counter-logical to expect our country to both ramp up its market defined industrial base and withdraw from the trans-national marketplace as some ‘Merca First agitators seem to be advocating.

    Not everyone is insulated by being a college professor, who can pontificate without consequence.

    Cheap shot, and unnecessary.

    And finally, about that one sided “Trump win” over Mexico:

    As part of the agreement, Mexico will send 10,000 National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border and the U.S. will investigate its part in trafficking guns to Mexico.

    https://www.courthousenews.com/mexico-and-us-agree-to-one-month-delay-on-trump-tariffs/

    I’m expecting both sides’ responses to be anemic.

    6
  30. DK Avatar
    DK

    @Rob1:

    As part of the agreement, Mexico will send 10,000 National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border

    Joe Biden already got Mexico to do its standard “10,000 troops to the border” schtick in 2021, without any of the market-destabilizing chaos:

    Mexico has 10,000 troops in south to stem migration, White House says
    (Reuters, April 13, 2021)

    Joe Biden orders immigration crackdown – Mexico sends 10,000 troops to patrol borders
    (Daily Express, April 12, 2021)

    So in response to Trump’s reckless bluster and incompetence, Mexico agreed…to keep doing what they’re already doing. What Epstein-bestie paedo Trump achieved here is rattling the economy, upsetting allies, making the US look unreliable, and strengthening China. All for the status quo.

    Sheinbaum and Trudeau in a group text with Xi tonight, laughing behind Trump’s big back. Heckuva job, rapist.

    6
  31. Jc Avatar
    Jc

    Can’t wait for Connor’s spin on the pitched Sovereign wealth fund. Lol. If a Dem President signed an EO creating a Sovereign wealth fund, I think Fox News would $hit a brick, that Watters guy would probably split in two. But, spin away o’ followers of the grifter in chief… I think we know how it would work, take money from tariffs, buy DJT coin, stock, Elon related stuff, just anything they can unload as investment….then the “profits” will go towards paying down the national debt….except when there are no profits, just devalued assets and losses. Winning!

    3
  32. Steven L. Taylor Avatar
    Steven L. Taylor

    @Rob1:

    Cheap shot, and unnecessary.

    These guys do like their ad hominem!

    It is very persuasive, dontcha know.

    3
  33. Neil Hudelson Avatar
    Neil Hudelson

    While this thread is probably dead, just thought I’d mention that I tried to track down Connor’s claim that its widely accepted that only 10% of USAID goes to intended recipients, even the vaunted NPR knows that dontchaknow.

    In news that will shock no one, there is no article from NPR that mentions 90% corruption rate in anyway whatsoever. I can find no articles from any journalistic enterprise that mentions it. The only mention is from El Salvador’s Strongman president, making that number up yesterday.

    Connor, who cannot locate El Salvador on a map and certainly does not know their leader’s name, background, or have any reason to trust him whatsoever, just swallowed that as gospel. He realized saying “El Salvador’s protodictator thinks there’s 90% corruption” would get laughed at, so he made up that NPR reported it.

    I keep being told that not all right wingers are degenerate liars, but I have yet to find one that isn’t. They just arent’ sending their best and brightest here.

    4

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