讀後心得

The day after Trump announced the comprehensive imposition of new tariffs, global stock markets plummeted, with the S&P 500 index crashing by 4.8%, marking the worst performance since the pandemic. Shares of major consumer brands such as Nike, Apple, and Target all fell by more than 9%. Trump insists that this move will help boost the U.S. economy and revitalize manufacturing, but retaliatory tariffs from multiple countries soon followed, and global trade volumes are expected to shrink. The market is generally concerned that the tariffs will trigger inflation and a slowdown in economic growth, with an unclear economic outlook in the future.

On the day after the U.S. president announced the comprehensive imposition of new tariffs, global stock markets experienced a sharp decline, with expectations that these tariffs would drive up prices and hinder economic growth in the U.S. and other countries. The S&P 500 index, which tracks 500 major U.S. companies, fell by 4.8%, marking its worst single-day performance since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. On that day, financial markets declined across Asia and Europe. Major consumer brands like Nike, Apple, and Target were hit hardest, with stock prices dropping more than 9%.

This Republican president stated that the U.S. economy would "prosper," insisting on the decision to impose at least a 10% import tariff, which would increase federal revenue and encourage the return of American manufacturing.

This president imposed higher tariffs on products from multiple countries, including China and the European Union, both of which have vowed to retaliate. The French president called for European companies to pause their investment plans in the U.S. Tariffs are taxes levied on imported goods, and Trump's announced plan elevates this tax to one of the highest levels in a century.

The World Trade Organization expressed concern about this, estimating that annual trade volumes could shrink by 1% as a result. Investors worry that the tariffs could trigger inflation and impede economic growth. On Friday morning, Japan's Nikkei 225 index fell by 2.7%, Australia's ASX200 index dropped by 1.6%, and South Korea's composite index remained flat or slightly down.

On Thursday, the S&P 500 index dropped by 4.8%, evaporating about $2 trillion in value, while the Dow Jones and NASDAQ indices fell by approximately 4% and 6%, respectively. U.S. stocks have been on a selling trend since mid-February, with ongoing concerns about the trade war. The UK's FTSE 100 index also fell by 1.5%, with other European and Asian markets showing a downward trend.

The executive order signed by Trump on Thursday further intensified investor concerns, aimed at altering the free trade order shaped by the U.S. over the past several decades. He declared it a "big deal" and emphasized that the markets would prosper and the nation would thrive. However, statements from the White House contradict Trump's claims that the new tariffs are not part of a negotiation strategy.

Additionally, the Canadian Prime Minister announced a 25% retaliatory tariff on vehicles imported from the U.S. In the announcement, Trump did not impose any new tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Companies face the dilemma of whether to absorb the tariff costs, and predictions suggest that this could significantly impact the U.S. consumer market.

Although the stock market fell, the price of gold as a safe-haven asset reached an all-time high of $3,167.57 per ounce amidst the unstable environment. The U.S. dollar weakened against multiple currencies. Analysts noted that these tariffs could reduce economic growth in Europe by close to 1%, and if the EU retaliates further, the impact would be even more severe.

Manufacturers of vehicles like Jeep and other brands indicated that their factories in Mexico and Canada temporarily shut down in response to the tariffs, leading to layoffs. Companies like Nike and Apple saw their stock prices plunge, reflecting the significant impact that trade policies could have on the market. Experts predict that more market volatility may occur in the future.