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• Trump Tariffs

• U.S. Stocks

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Trump Tariffs

Former President Donald Trump announced a new 25% import fee on all vehicles not manufactured within the U.S., set to begin on April 2. This measure adds to existing duties and aims to raise over $100 billion annually, according to his administration. Trump emphasized that vehicles built domestically won’t be subject to the levy, while aides clarified it includes both cars and light trucks produced abroad. The announcement drew swift criticism from the European Union, which warned of negative effects on both economies. Auto stocks dipped in response, and business leaders voiced concern over the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s evolving trade strategies.

U.S. Stocks

U.S. stocks slipped Wednesday as technology shares dragged major indexes lower, with Nvidia, Tesla, and other big tech names seeing notable declines. The Nasdaq fell over 2%, while the S&P 500 and Dow also lost ground. The slide accelerated after the White House confirmed President Trump would announce fresh auto import tariffs later in the day, with more levies expected next week. While recent signals point to a softer approach, market volatility persists amid trade uncertainty. Defensive sectors like consumer staples and utilities outperformed as investors sought safer ground ahead of April 2, when reciprocal tariffs are set to take effect.

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