Trump's 'Liberation Day' Tariff Plan: Financial Markets on Edge as Investors Await Clarity

Global investors are eagerly awaiting details on the Trump administration’s tariff strategy, with financial markets remaining unsettled due to uncertainty about what lies ahead. 

For weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump has referred to April 2 as “Liberation Day,” the date he intends to implement a series of new tariffs that could disrupt the global trade landscape.

“I can’t recall a situation where the stakes were this high and yet the outcome was so unpredictable,” said Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers. “The devil is going to be in the details and nobody knows the details.”

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that once Trump announces the new trade measures, reciprocal tariffs will be imposed on nations that levy duties on U.S. goods. Additionally, a 25% tariff on imported automobiles is set to take effect on April 3.

“Ideally, we just get one number and then we can figure out the downstream impact,” said Sonu Varghese, global macro strategist at Carson Group.

“But my fear is that we won’t get that, or even if we get one number that will be subject to negotiations,” he said.

Wednesday’s announcement feels particularly crucial after the S&P 500 confirmed a correction, a drop of 10% from a recent high, in mid-March. The index was last down about 8% from its February record high.

Source: Reuters