Investing.com -- The recent market sell-off is a direct result of President Donald Trump’s changing tariff and trade policies, not the work of ’globalists’ as Trump suggested, according to Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group, one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory and asset management organizations. Major stock markets experienced significant drops this week, causing investors to question the stability of the US economy.

In a discussion at the Oval Office on Thursday, when asked if his tariffs were causing market fears, President Trump responded by blaming ’globalist’ countries and companies. In response, Green stated that investors are reacting to the direct impact of Trump’s trade policies, not to any globalist conspiracy.

The CEO pointed to the shifting tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, and the threats to extend them to the EU, as the cause of market instability. He stated that this turbulence is not the result of any international conspiracy, but rather the predictable outcome of protectionist economics clashing with global financial realities.

On April 2, reciprocal tariffs will be implemented, further increasing pressure on businesses that depend on international trade. While Trump’s decision to extend the tariff pause for goods from Canada and Mexico under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) may provide temporary relief for some sectors, it does not mitigate the broader market reaction.

All major US benchmarks suffered losses, with the Nasdaq Composite slipping into correction territory and erasing its post-election Trump bump. Green added that investors are questioning whether the US economy is being guided by a sound financial strategy or by impulsive political maneuvering. He emphasized that markets thrive on stability and predictability, both of which are lacking due to the erratic approach to global trade.

Tariffs act as a tax on businesses and consumers, increasing costs, disrupting supply chains, and prompting retaliatory actions from trade partners. The negative effects of these actions are now being seen in real time. Companies facing higher input costs are passing them onto consumers, which dampens demand and impacts corporate earnings. Exporters are being excluded from key markets as trading partners impose countermeasures, restricting avenues for growth.

The US economy is heavily intertwined with the global marketplace, and attempts to isolate it behind tariff walls will not shield it from reality. International investors, fund managers, and business leaders are making decisions based on economic fundamentals, not ideological rhetoric.

Green concluded by saying that the numbers don’t lie: uncertainty leads to sell-offs, and sell-offs erode confidence. He emphasized that investors are responding to tangible risks, not to a vague ’globalist’ conspiracy. The market has delivered its verdict, and the message is clear: uncertainty is toxic, and protectionism carries a heavy price.

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