What Happened?

• President Donald Trump signed a sweeping “reciprocal tariff” policy, introducing a broad 10% tariff on all imports.
• Steeper tariffs target specific countries:

🔺 54% on China (including an existing 20%)

🔺 20% on the EU

🔺 46% on Vietnam

🔺 32% on Taiwan

• The baseline 10% tariff takes effect on 5 April, with higher country-specific tariffs following on 9 April.
• This staggered timeline leaves room for negotiations—giving countries a chance to propose trade adjustments and potentially ease the harsher measures.

Market Reactions 

Markets have shifted to a risk-off stance. While US equities pulled back, other global equity markets remained relatively calm. Global bonds, in particular, rallied on increased demand for safe-haven assets.

Markets Wobbled, But Stay the Course

The market’s reaction to the newly announced tariff policy has been sharp—but let’s put things into perspective.

• The situation is still fluid. While headline tariffs grab attention, implementation is staggered and there’s a real possibility of negotiations before higher country-specific tariffs kick in. This gives global leaders room to recalibrate and avoid a prolonged standoff.
• This is just one piece of the puzzle. Tax cuts and deregulation policies—hallmarks of pro-growth strategy—are expected to follow later in Trump’s term. These tend to be more bipartisan and have historically boosted business confidence and market performance.

Volatility Creates Opportunity

• History shows that geopolitical-driven sell-offs often lead to buying opportunities for long-term investors. 
• That’s why we encourage you to stay invested and consider a Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) or Enhanced DCA (EDCA) strategy. 
• Buying on dips helps reduce the impact of short-term noise and smooth out your investment journey.

Stay calm, stay invested: How DCA/EDCA can keep you on track

Strengthen Your Portfolio with Confidence 

• Review Your Portfolio. If the current market volatility makes you uncomfortable, It’s important to be honest about how much risk you can truly handle. The best portfolio is not the one making the most returns, but the one you are comfortable to hold for long-term. 

• Build a Diversified Portfolio. Markets may stay volatile amid trade tensions and Fed uncertainty. But one thing’s clear—diversification helps manage risk. At Syfe, we build portfolios for long-term growth. Even during recent turbulence, our managed portfolios, Core Equity100 and Protected Portfolio, have shown resilience.

During the recent market sell-off, bonds remained steady. Income+ Preserve and Enhance delivered a solid +2.0% year-to-date, despite ongoing market volatility.

Not sure what your next move should be? We’re here to help.

Whether you’re navigating market uncertainty or simply want a second opinion on your portfolio, speak to us—our team is ready to guide you every step of the way.