US President Donald Trump is set to unveil a full suite of trade policies, including tariffs, on April 2. This move comes as investors face uncertainty due to the unpredictable nature of Trump’s communication style.
The expected announcement includes a 25% duty on imported vehicles, which has raised concerns about an across-the-board approach to duties and their impact on the US economy. However, recent hints from the White House suggest that Trump may take a more targeted approach, giving the dollar and Wall Street stocks some relief.
This week’s market focus will be on the latest monthly jobs data, expected to show employment growth slowed in March to 128,000, compared to 151,000 in February. The data is crucial in testing the health of the US economy and assessing the impact of Trump’s policies on employment rates.
Additionally, investors are watching for updates on the European Central Bank’s inflation report, which may influence interest rate decisions. The upcoming ECB meeting has sparked debate about whether further rate cuts this year are feasible, considering fresh tariffs on autos and ongoing discussions about Germany’s spending bonanza and Europe’s defense push.
In other news, Australia is set to announce an interest rate decision on Tuesday, with expectations of no change due to benign inflation readings and a cooling job market.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/take-five/global-markets-themes-graphic-2025-03-28