Clapton is God

President Trump has officially declared Wednesday, April 2nd as “Liberation Day” — the most aggressive escalation in global trade tensions to date. This launch of Reciprocal Tariffs will impact 25+ countries, disrupt markets, and reshape global trade.
What Are Reciprocal Tariffs?
These are new, additional tariffs aimed at matching the unfair duties other countries impose on the U.S.
🔶 Targeting $1.5 trillion+ in imports by end of April
🔶 Expected to raise $600 billion/year in revenue
🔶 Seen as economic retaliation, but with global consequences
Tariffs Already in Place
🔶 25% on all steel & aluminum
🔶 25% on Canadian goods, 10% on Canadian energy
🔶 25% on Mexican goods
🔶 20% on a wide range of Chinese imports
New Tariffs Going Live This Week
🔶 25% on all auto imports (impacting $275B/year)
🔶 Tariffs on countries buying Venezuelan oil
🔶 25–50% on Russian oil
🔶 Secondary tariffs on Iran
Retaliation Begins Worldwide
🔶 Canada: Tariffs on $21B in U.S. goods
🔶 China: 10–15% tariffs on U.S. agriculture
🔶 EU: Preparing retaliatory measures
🔶 Mexico: Counter-tariffs coming April 3rd
The result? A dangerous cycle of reciprocal tariffs on reciprocal tariffs — the start of Trade War 2.0.
Historic Tariff Levels
🔶 U.S. average tariff rate is now at ~8% (highest since 1970)
🔶 Expected to break the 1946 post-WWII high by April-end
Markets in Turmoil
🔶 Economic Uncertainty Index is now 80% higher than 2008
🔶 Magnificent 7 stocks lost $3 trillion+ in market cap
🔶 Institutional capital is fleeing while retail keeps buying the dip
Gold Soars as Safe Haven
🔶 $12 billion inflows into gold ETFs in 2 months
🔶 Gold up +17% YTD, while S&P 500 down -5%
🔶 Investors are clearly running to safety
Inflation Heating Up
🔶 In Trade War 1.0: Tariffed goods rose +4%, non-tariffed fell -2%
🔶 Q2 2025 inflation expected to run hot
🔶 Consumers will bear the brunt as import costs surge
Consumer Confidence Crashing
🔶 Confidence dropped 20 points this month to 57
🔶 This level is only seen during deep recessions
🔶 Households are bracing for a price storm
New Agency: External Revenue Service
🔶 “ERS” launches April 2nd to enforce & collect tariffs
🔶 A Tariff IRS built to sustain this economic strategy
Geopolitical Threats Add Fuel
🔶 Trump threatens to bomb Iran without a nuclear deal
🔶 Pharma tariffs coming soon
🔶 Russian and Iranian oil in the crosshairs
Final Thoughts
🔶 25+ countries affected
🔶 Inflation rising
🔶 Markets volatile
🔶 Consumers stressed
🔶 Safe havens rallying
🔶 A historic economic shift underway
April 2nd is not just Liberation Day…
It’s the day global economics enters a new chapter — and the world braces for impact.