StepStone Job Bulletin 3.06.25

🚢 U.S. Tariffs Shake Markets: Global Impact Looms

Markets were back on edge this week as President Trump’s escalating tariff battle with Canada, Mexico, and China took a series of unexpected turns. After initially imposing sweeping 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, the White House granted a one-month exemption for automakers, temporarily calming investor fears.

But the uncertainty is far from over. Trump’s administration is now weighing agricultural carveouts for Mexico and Canada, while China has vowed to fight back against the tariffs through the World Trade Organization.

📊 Key Takeaways

🚗 Auto industry relief – Automakers and parts suppliers dodged immediate tariff pain, but only for a month.
🌽 Food fight brewing – Agricultural products may also get tariff exemptions, a critical issue for North American trade.
📉 Markets on edge – Stocks rebounded on the auto exemption, but broader uncertainty around trade continues to rattle investors.
💬 U.S.-China tensions escalate – China warned it’s ready to fight a "tariff war" to the bitter end, raising the risk of prolonged economic conflict.

With trade policy reshaping supply chains and corporate strategies, the ripple effects for global markets—and M&A activity—could be massive. This is a textbook case of how policy and geopolitics collide to move markets.