Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we examine the prospect of new tariffs, starting in 2025.
Precious Metals:
From BullionVault: Volatility Hits Gold and Silver Prices on ‘Tweak’ to Trump’s Trade Tariffs.
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Reuters reported on Tuesday: Gold pares gains as dollar rebounds following US jobs data. Here is a key quote:
“Uncertainty surrounding the tariff policy in the run up to Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20 has fuelled concerns about future moves in U.S. policy.
Investors have been pricing in a scenario where proposed tariffs could inflame U.S. inflation, limiting the Fed’s ability to cut rates and thereby pressuring gold.”
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Here’s How Tariffs Could Impact the Precious Metals Market”
Economy & Finance:
Tariffs on the move? A guide for CEOs for 2025 and beyond.
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How proposed tariffs could reshape U.S. economy and global trade in 2025.
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David Haggith: The Trouble with Tariffs and the Economic Nuclear Bomb, Part Two.
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A good background piece from Morgan Stanley, published back in November: Unintended Consequences: The Economic and Corporate Trade-Offs of Tariffs.
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From the statist/globalist perspective of Global Finance magazine: Bracing For A Tariff War.
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Reported by CNBC on Wednesday: Fed officials are worried about the inflation impacts from Trump’s policies, minutes show.
Commodities:
Hotter Commodities: Trump tariffs 2.0.
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Reported by a strongly pro-green energy website: Trump’s Tariffs and Climate Rollbacks: How 2025 is Shaking Copper Markets and Clean Energy Goals.
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From OilPrice News: Massive Lithium Discovery Could Transform U.S. Energy Landscape.
Tariff and Transport Rumblings
Trump reportedly considering important alteration to tariff plans.
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Reported in late November: Mexico’s president would impose retaliatory tariffs in response to Trump’s plan.
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VOA reported this, back in May, 2024: Beijing vows retaliation against Biden’s hikes of tariffs on Chinese imports.
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This was posted at the Loadstar supply chain website in late November: Trump vows 25% tariff on imports from Canada/Mexico and adds 10% to China.
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Baltic Dry Index Climbs to 1072, Up 43 Points.
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Bracing for the US-China trade war to come.
Forex & Cryptos:
How import tariffs affect the value of the dollar.
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At Currency Thoughts: Confusion Over Trump’s Tariff Plans.
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MUFG: Annual Foreign Exchange Outlook.
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US-China Trade War: Biden Makes Pre-Trump Move Against Tencent.
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South Korea to spur foreign inflows, consumer demand amid political crisis.
Tangibles Investing:
On January 6th, SurvivalBlog reader Mark X. wrote:
“You might want to think about stocking up on products you use that are imported.
The Orange man will probably be introducing tariffs on Jan. 20, if the Lord is kind and allows him to actually become president.
In the long run, this is a very good thing, as it will encourage companies to start doing things in the good ole U.S .of A., but it might hurt during the process of bringing things back here.
Even things that are not imported may go up in price due to increased demand for local goods, because people opt out of purchasing higher-priced tariffed items. Supply and demand dontchaknow.
Cocoa, Chocolate, tea, fish, oils, most clothes, Canadian lumber? Isn’t it great that most drugs and supplements are made in China. A lot of our beef is imported from Argentina and other places. And you think beef prices are high now…
Most consumables are created offshore.
Prices will continue to escalate even if tariffs are not imposed, so you are still saving money and investing in your future if you do this.”
Provisos:
SurvivalBlog and its Editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for our detailed disclaimers.
News Tips:
Please send your economics and investing news tips to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) These are often especially relevant because they come from folks who closely watch specific markets. If you spot any news that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers, then please send it in. News items from local news outlets that are missed by the news wire services are especially appreciated. Thanks!