Markets React Harshly as Trump&rsquo;s Global Tariff Gambit Unnerves Investors
In what appears to be a dramatic escalation of protectionist policy, <a title="US Trump Tariff" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/business/trump-tariff-tsunami-rattles-global-markets/17263" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US</a> President Donald Trump has imposed sweeping tariffs on imports from 69 countries, sparking a global selloff in equity markets and triggering widespread investor anxiety.
On Friday, markets across the globe closed sharply lower in response. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 542 points, or 1.23%, while the S&amp;P 500 declined by 1.6%. The tech-centric Nasdaq Composite led the slump, dropping 2.24% &mdash; its worst single-day performance since April. This turbulence also ended a two-week winning streak for the major indices.
The tariff plan, unveiled late Thursday, includes levies ranging from 10% to 41% on a broad swathe of countries &mdash; from Chile to Syria &mdash; and is set to take effect on 7 August. While analysts had anticipated some degree of escalation, the scale and scope of the announcement shocked even seasoned market watchers.
The reaction was immediate. Not only did all major US indices post their worst weekly losses in months &mdash; the Dow logging its steepest drop since April &mdash; but investor confidence, already fragile, took another blow.
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This latest move represents more than just another skirmish in the trade wars. It signals a broader ideological shift towards economic nationalism, with potentially long-lasting repercussions for global trade dynamics. For over a decade, American markets have been the bedrock of investor trust, bolstered by political stability and liquidity. But as the Trump administration doubles down on its "America First" approach, cracks are beginning to show.
Lori Heinel, Global Chief Investment Officer at State Street Global Advisors, remarked: "The US market&rsquo;s standing appears a little bit bruised. Investors are beginning to question whether American exceptionalism can withstand prolonged policy unpredictability."
Indeed, this isn&rsquo;t merely about tariffs. The labour data released Friday further compounded the market's unease. The US added just 73,000 jobs in July &mdash; far below expectations. Previous estimates for May and June were slashed dramatically, pointing to a deeper weakness in the labour market than previously believed. The revisions were so severe that President Trump, in a highly unusual move, ordered the firing of the government's head of labour statistics, suggesting the revisions were politically motivated.
With the Federal Reserve holding interest rates steady for now, all eyes are on incoming economic data. Fed Chair Jerome Powell recently indicated that any rate changes would depend on clarity around inflation and tariff-related pressures.
But clarity, it seems, is in short supply. While markets had momentarily adjusted to a more moderated tone from the White House in recent months &mdash; following deal-making with the EU, Japan, and South Korea &mdash; the sudden revival of aggressive tariffs has rekindled fears of a decoupling global economy.
August has begun with a jolt. The Dow&rsquo;s worst week in four months has set a cautionary tone, and the ripple effects are already visible across Europe and Asia, where major indices also closed in the red.
The world is watching &mdash; and bracing. With just five days until the tariffs go live, investors are caught between recalculating risks and hoping, once again, that Trump may temper his threats at the eleventh hour. But this time, they&rsquo;re no longer betting confidently on a climb-down.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the rules of global trade &mdash; and market expectations &mdash; are being rewritten in real-time.

Markets nosedive worldwide as Trump’s sweeping tariff plan stuns investors and shakes sent

Trump’s Tariff Tsunami Jolts Global Markets

Markets nosedive worldwide as Trump’s sweeping tariff plan stuns investors and shakes sent

August 2, 2025 | 14:46 IST