Policy or Cudgel? A Trade Economist on Trump’s Hardball Tariffs.

Stock futures took a hit after former President Trump announced new tariffs on Canadian goods, signaling renewed trade tensions. Meanwhile, the dollar strengthened as investors sought safer assets. Markets are reacting nervously to the potential ripple effects of these protectionist measures.

When stocks took a nosedive in early April, it wasn’t the usual Wall Street heavyweights who jumped in—it was everyday investors. And guess what? Their "buy the dip" strategy paid off, leaving the big players scrambling to catch up on missed gains.

Futures for the Dow Jones took a dip after former President Donald Trump floated the idea of slapping a 35% tariff on Canadian goods. The White House quickly clarified that products meeting the terms of the North American trade deal (USMCA) would dodge the bullet—for now. Investors are eyeing the situation warily, unsure if this is just political posturing or the start of another trade skirmish.

Oil prices ticked up a bit after recent drops, but the rebound is fragile. New US tariffs on Chinese goods and OPEC’s lowered demand forecast are keeping the market on edge—traders aren’t convinced this uptick will last.

A U.S. diplomatic effort to broker a deal in Congo, reportedly tied to former President Trump's interests, has collapsed amid internal disagreements, shifting alliances, and local pushback. The mission, which aimed to secure mining concessions or political leverage, fell apart due to mistrust and competing agendas—highlighting the messy reality of foreign influence in resource-rich regions.