The announcement of the US intention to impose tariffs on imported steel and aluminum on national security grounds has sent ripples through the capital markets. Yet there is certainly more going on here than that. The tariffs, justification, and magnitude have indicated and expected.
After reversing lower on Tuesday and selling off on Wednesday, equity investors hardly needed a fresh reason to sell on Thursday. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell today for the fourth consecutive session and is off 2.1% on the week. The European Dow Jones Stoxx 600 also is off for a fourth consecutive session, and down more than 1%, like yesterday. It is off nearly 3% for the week. The S&P 50 is off 2.5% this week coming into today’s session. It tested the 2660 we identified yesterday, and the next retracement target is seen near 2630.
The initial reaction is to fear the worst, which in this case is a tit-for-tat retaliation, which like an-eye-for-an-eye, a rational game theory strategy, leads to a village of blind people, or in this case, an end to the multilateral free-trade system. Yet, this is not the most likely scenario. The most likely scenario is to challenge the US action at the WTO. Moreover, and this is important, there is precedent for this. In 2002, then President Bush imposed 30% tariffs on steel, and that is what happened. The US lost the challenge and the tariffs were rescinded.
The US claim of national security will be challenged. The prosecution’s first piece of evidence could be the US Defense Department’s opposition to the tariffs. Either it is being derelict in its duties or US security may not be at stake. Many Republicans in Congress take exception with the tariffs, and if so inclined, Congress could seek to rein in President’s unilateral authority on trade, as it has on some international sanctions.
Many observers recognize that the tariffs could increase the price of goods that use steel and aluminum. Some suggest that this could add to pressure on the Fed to tighten policy more aggressively. Yet, there is an accepted distinction between relative prices and the general level. Americans buy more services than goods, and their steel consumption is limited in their basket of goods.
