The United States' average import tariff has climbed to 13%, a level not seen in 90 years, following the implementation of a universal baseline tariff. This aggressive shift in trade policy marks a structural move away from decades of free-trade agreements, impacting input costs across most sectors.
Corporate profit margins are now facing direct pressure as the "inventory cushion" that previously shielded companies has been depleted. Economists and analysts are now warning of a potential 0.5% reduction in GDP growth and are actively slashing corporate growth forecasts, fundamentally reassessing market valuations in a new era of protectionism. The policy is expected to increase costs for the average U.S. household.
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