𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗣'𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗬-𝗪𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗬𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗙𝗙𝗦 𝗙𝗥𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗦

                                  

                               

Trump's on again, off again, approach to tariffs is annoying the Hell out of Americans, particularly investors.

The S&P 500 tumbled 1.8% to resume its slide after a mini-recovery from the prior day clawed back some of its sharp drop over recent weeks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 427 points, or 1%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 2.6% to finish more than 10% below its record set in December.

Stocks fell even though President Trump on Thursday offered a one-month reprieve from his 25% tariffs on many goods imported from Mexico and Canada. That's unlike the bounce stocks got the prior day from his giving a one-month exemption specifically for automakers.

                                     

All the moves keep hope alive that Trump may be using tariffs as just a tool for negotiations rather than as a permanent policy and that he may ultimately avoid a worst-case trade war that grinds down economies and sends inflation higher.

But Trump is still pressing ahead with other tariffs scheduled to take effect April 2. And the growing pile of dizzying back-and-forth moves on tariffs is only amping up the uncertainty. It was just on Monday that Trump said there was "no room" left for negotiations that could lower the tariffs on Mexico and Canada, which took effect Tuesday.

Jan. 21: Promised to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico 

Feb. 1: Officially announced tariffs on imports from Mexico

Feb. 3: Delayed tariffs on Canada and Mexico

Feb. 27: Said that tariffs on Mexico and Canada would go into effect on March 4 

March 1: Ordered an increase in U.S. lumber production to compensaate for tariffs on Canadian lumber

March 4: Imposed 25 percent tariffs on all imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10 percent tariff on all imports from China, sending shock waves through the economy

March 5: Paused tariffs on cars from Canada and Mexico for a month 

March 5: Accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada of imposing tariffs on the U.S. “to stay in power”