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[The Economic and Market Implications of Rapidly Shifting Tariff Policies]-[The recession question]

Exchanges · B2 · 2025-04-11

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📋 Summary

The Impact of Escalating Tariff Policies on the Global Economy

In this episode of Goldman Sachs Exchanges, host Alison Nathan sits down with Jan Hatzius, Chief Economist at Goldman Sachs, and Dominic Wilson, Senior Advisor in the Global Markets Research group, to discuss the seismic shift in U.S. tariff policy and its far-reaching consequences for the global economy and financial markets.

From Tailwinds to Headwinds: The Economic Outlook

Jan Hatzius notes a dramatic reversal in the firm’s 2025 economic outlook. Previously, the team believed that economic "tailwinds" would outweigh tariff impacts. However, with U.S. tariff rate increases now estimated in the 15-20 percentage point range, the outlook has turned significantly more cautious. Hatzius identifies three primary channels through which tariffs drag on growth:

  1. Consumption: Price increases eat into household real income.
  2. Financial Conditions: Tariff hikes tend to tighten financial conditions.
  3. Uncertainty: Trade policy ambiguity discourages capital investment, causing firms to "sit on their hands."

Currently, the firm projects a 45% recession probability and expects very weak U.S. GDP growth of only 0.5% (Q4 to Q4). Inflation is also expected to accelerate by nearly a percentage point, pushing core PCE toward 3.5%.

The Fed’s Policy Dilemma

The Federal Reserve faces a difficult balancing act. Hatzius emphasizes that the Fed must watch two critical factors: whether long-term inflation expectations remain "anchored" and if the labor market shows "meaningful deterioration." While the current baseline forecast includes 75 basis points of easing, the range of outcomes is exceptionally wide, with the possibility of no cuts—or up to 200 basis points of easing—depending on the severity of the economic slowdown.

Market Volatility and the Breakdown of Safe Havens

Dominic Wilson highlights the unusual market behavior observed recently, specifically the "Treasury rout" where bond yields rose despite equity market turmoil. This is a departure from historical norms where Treasuries acted as the "ultimate safe haven asset." Wilson attributes this to three factors:

  • Fed Constraints: Worries about the Fed being forced to ease into an environment of rising inflation.
  • Fiscal Concerns: Acknowledgement that a recessionary environment will exacerbate public debt.
  • Foreign Demand: Concerns that foreign investors might "take a step back" from the Treasury market, as evidenced by difficult bond auctions.

Wilson notes that the market is currently "underpricing" the downside risks of a recession, and there remains significant potential for further equity and credit valuation adjustments.

The Persistence of Uncertainty

When asked about the damage caused by policy uncertainty, Hatzius admits it is the hardest factor to model, noting that current measures of trade policy uncertainty are at "unprecedented levels." He warns that while some economic drag might be temporary, the impact on corporate investment decisions is likely to persist for the "foreseeable future," making a full "unwind" of the economic damage difficult.

The Dollar and Global Repercussions

Contrary to conventional wisdom, the U.S. dollar has weakened amid the tariff tensions. Wilson explains that this is due to a shift in investor sentiment regarding U.S. economic fragility and a growing nervousness among foreign investors about their heavy allocation in U.S. assets. Goldman Sachs now forecasts "extended dollar weakness" as investors diversify into other safe havens like the yen, Swiss franc, and gold.

Finally, regarding the global landscape, Hatzius characterizes the current situation as a "negative sum game." With downward growth revisions for nearly all major economies, it is clear that trade protectionism is creating widespread economic friction, with China and the U.S. both suffering significant growth setbacks.

🎯Key Sentences

1
it's been a week for the ages
2
they sit on their hands
3
that's a done deal
4
the range around that is very wide
5
we just about skate by
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📝Key Phrases

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grappling with
2
eats into
3
in spades
4
sit on their hands
5
recessionary
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📖 Transcript

What will rapidly shifting tariff policies ultimately mean for the global economy and markets?
I'm Alison Nathan and this is Goldman Sachs Exchanges.
Today I'm joined again by Jan Hotzius, head of Goldman Sachs Research and the firm's chief economist, and Dominic Wilson, senior advisor in the Global Markets Research group.
Jan, Dom, it's good to have you back on Exchanges.
Thank you. Jan, it's been a week for the ages, and so much has happened since we last sat down in mid February.
Terry, at that time you believed that tailwinds in the economy were more likely to trump tariff headwinds.

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