WSJ What’s News: U.S. Stocks Soar as President Trump Pauses Some Tariffs

Release Date: April 9, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of WSJ What’s News, hosted by Alex Osola from The Wall Street Journal, listeners are provided with an in-depth analysis of the significant market movements triggered by President Trump's latest tariff policies. The episode delves into the implications of the 90-day pause on most retaliatory tariffs, the escalation of tariffs on China, and the broader economic and global repercussions of these decisions.

President Trump's Tariff Announcement

At 00:33, Alex Osola reports that U.S. markets experienced a rally following President Trump's announcement of a 90-day pause on most retaliatory tariffs. This pause applies to all trading partners except China, which faces an increased tariff rate of 125%.

Trump elaborated on his decision via his Truth Social platform, stating that reciprocal tariffs would be reduced to 10% immediately for nations engaging in negotiations on trade, barriers, and currency manipulation. However, China was explicitly excluded from this pause due to what Trump described as China's persistent lack of cooperation:

"The world's second largest economy had shown a lack of respect throughout the tariff skirmish and would now face even loftier levies."
— President Trump ([00:54])

Treasury Secretary Scott Besant provided further context during a news conference, emphasizing the administration's negotiating leverage:

"President Trump created maximum negotiating leverage for himself and the tariffs went into effect 15 hours ago... We have been overwhelmed by the response from mostly our allies who want to come and negotiate in good faith."
— Treasury Secretary Scott Besant ([02:22])

Market Reactions and Analysis

The immediate market reaction was overwhelmingly positive. At 04:27, Alex Osola highlights that U.S. stocks surged, marking a historic rally with approximately $5.1 trillion added to market capitalization—the largest one-day gain on record. Specific indices saw remarkable increases:

• Nasdaq: Up over 12%
• S&P 500: Up nearly 10%
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Up about 8%, adding more than 2,900 points, its largest one-day point gain ever.

Investing columnist Spencer Jacob provided insights into this phenomenon:

"The reaction was the most violent positive reaction that I've ever seen in stock markets."
— Spencer Jacob ([05:04])

However, Jacob cautioned about the sustainability of this rally:

"When smoke clears tomorrow... we might resume a downward trend because this all has been a hit to the economy... the chaos and the uncertainty surrounding the tariffs."
— Spencer Jacob ([05:24])

He also noted the potential long-term impact on businesses, particularly small enterprises and importers, which might be reflected in the upcoming jobs report.

Expert Opinions

An Economic Commentator offered a nuanced perspective on the market's response:

"Wall Street's sort of still figuring it out... what the market is seeing is it seems to be celebrating that there's maybe a pain threshold or a willingness to back down on some of these, to negotiate... a lot of businesses hurt by this next month's jobs report."
— Economic Commentator ([03:12])

Furthermore, Mr. Secretary Ryan December, covering markets for The Journal, advised caution despite the market's exuberance:

"What it means in practice remains to be seen."
— Mr. Secretary Ryan December ([03:04])

Global Responses to Tariff Pause

The global landscape reacted swiftly to Trump's tariff adjustments:

• China escalated its retaliation by increasing tariffs on U.S. goods from 34% to 84%, mirroring the maximum levels previously set by the U.S. White House. Additionally, China issued warnings targeting American tourism and education sectors.

• The European Union approved an initial list of U.S. goods subject to tariffs, including staples like soybeans and orange juice, although American whiskey was exempted.

These responses underscore the persistent tension in international trade relations and the potential for further economic discord.

Impact on Importing Processes

The implementation of Trump's new tariffs introduced complexities into the importing process. Liz Young, a Journal reporter covering logistics and supply chains, explained at 09:10:

"Companies that may have only previously had to calculate one duty rate may now have to calculate three or four or more... this is making a process that might have previously been, let's say, 10% for any item imported is now several line items that they have to go through and calculate."
— Liz Young ([09:10])

Key points include:

• Exemptions: Shipments already en route before the new tariffs took effect at 00:01 are exempt.
• Increased Complexity: Companies must collaborate with licensed customs brokers to navigate multiple duty rates based on product composition and country of origin.
• Operational Adjustments: Businesses are adjusting by enhancing their partnerships with customs brokers, who are critical in managing the recalibrated import processes.

Liz Young emphasized the reliance on these brokers to mitigate the administrative burden:

"Customs brokers specialize in this. They have to set up their systems... to help with the importing paperwork, help with calculating the duty rate, help with facilitating payment."
— Liz Young ([10:12])

Conclusion

The episode of WSJ What’s News provides a comprehensive overview of the immediate and potential long-term effects of President Trump's tariff policies. While the market initially responded with unprecedented gains, expert analyses suggest that the underlying economic challenges and global tensions may temper these positive sentiments in the near future. The complexities introduced into the importing process highlight the tangible impacts on businesses, signaling a period of adjustment and uncertainty ahead.

Listeners are left with a clear understanding of the multifaceted nature of trade policies and their far-reaching implications on both the U.S. economy and international relations.

Produced by: Pierre Biennime and Anthony Banci
Supervising Producer: Michael Cosmitis
Host: Alex Osola
Source: The Wall Street Journal