Economists have sharply downgraded eurozone growth projections following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of 20% tariffs on European exports. The sweeping trade barriers have heightened concerns over a global economic slowdown, prompting expectations of accelerated rate cuts by the European Central Bank (ECB), with April now seen as a likely starting point.

Tariffs Trigger Economic Concerns

Trump’s latest trade move has sparked widespread concerns among economists, who warn that the tariffs will hit European consumption and investment while shifting inflation fears to the background. The tariff shock is expected to weigh heavily on trade, business confidence, and foreign investments, increasing the likelihood of stagnation within the eurozone economy.

ABN Amro economists, led by Bill Diviney, anticipate a significant slump in European economic activity. “The EU has been hit with a 20% tariff. We expect this to drive a sharp fall in exports to the U.S. over the coming months, and we are significantly downgrading our 2025 growth forecast as a result,” Diviney stated. The bank now expects near-zero quarterly growth in the short term, with a likely contraction by the third quarter of 2025. However, a recovery is projected toward the year’s end, gaining momentum in 2026.

Bank Forecasts and Inflation Outlook

Bank of America estimates that the U.S. tariffs could reduce global GDP growth by 50 basis points, with the U.S. potentially losing up to 1.5 percentage points, while China and the eurozone face contractions of around one percentage point and 40–60 basis points, respectively.

“For the eurozone, if tariffs remain in place, we anticipate a 40–60 basis point decline in growth over the next few quarters, with the EU likely implementing some form of retaliatory measures,” economist Ruben Segura Cayuela said. However, the inflationary impact of EU retaliation is expected to be minimal, with a 10% tariff hike on U.S. imports raising inflation by only five basis points.

Goldman Sachs analysts, led by Sven Jari Stehn, also revised their projections, warning of increased downside risks. “Our baseline forecast of 0.8% eurozone growth in 2025 already accounted for a total trade-related GDP hit of 0.7%, but the magnitude of Trump’s tariffs raises the likelihood of a technical recession.” The bank now expects the ECB to cut its deposit rate to 1.75% by July, with an April cut deemed “very likely.”

ECB Rate Cuts on the Horizon

The consensus among major financial institutions is that the ECB will respond to the tariff-induced slowdown with aggressive monetary easing. ING’s global head of macroeconomics, Carsten Brzeski, likened the tariffs to a “tsunami,” warning of a prolonged downturn.

“This U.S. tariff move will hurt. Beyond trade, the real concern is its effect on confidence—European consumers and businesses are likely to hold back on spending and investment, keeping eurozone growth at a crawl,” Brzeski said. ING has accordingly lowered its eurozone GDP forecast for 2025 to 0.6% from 0.7% and for 2026 to 1.0% from 1.4%.

With economic headwinds mounting, analysts widely expect the ECB to begin rate cuts in April, potentially ushering in a series of reductions throughout the year to cushion the impact of weakened trade and investment. As uncertainty over global trade tensions intensifies, the eurozone’s economic trajectory remains precarious.

Amazon has submitted a last-minute bid to acquire TikTok, a Trump administration official confirmed on Wednesday, as the deadline for a US ban on the popular social media platform approaches. The offer was made in a letter addressed to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The bid was first reported by The New York Times, coming just days before the deadline for TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the platform to an approved buyer or face a ban in the United States. While President Donald Trump has suggested he may extend the deadline, he has also indicated that he expects a deal to be finalized by Saturday.

Possible Investors in TikTok

Amazon’s interest in TikTok adds another player to an already competitive field of potential buyers. Among the companies that have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok’s US operations are Oracle and Blackstone. Oracle, which secured a 12.5% stake in TikTok Global in 2020, has long been seen as a leading contender, given its role as the app’s cloud technology provider.

In January, AI startup Perplexity AI proposed a merger with TikTok’s US division, suggesting it could rebuild the platform’s algorithm while avoiding monopoly concerns. The company emphasized its commitment to maintaining American oversight and data security in a blog post outlining its vision for TikTok’s future.

Other potential buyers include a consortium led by billionaire Frank McCourt, who recently brought on Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian as a strategic adviser. The group has reportedly offered ByteDance $20 billion in cash. Meanwhile, Employer.com founder Jesse Tinsley has assembled a competing consortium and is said to be offering over $30 billion. Additionally, Wyoming entrepreneur Reid Rasner has reportedly submitted a bid worth approximately $47.5 billion.

Concerns Over National Security

TikTok’s future in the US remains uncertain due to national security concerns raised by American officials. Both the FBI and the Federal Communications Commission have warned that ByteDance could potentially share US user data with the Chinese government. However, TikTok has repeatedly denied these claims, stating it has never provided data to Chinese authorities and would refuse to do so if asked. To date, the US government has not presented concrete evidence supporting the allegations.

Trump’s relationship with TikTok has been complex. Although he has millions of followers on the platform and has credited it with helping him connect with younger voters, his administration has also pushed for restrictions on the app. During his first term, he issued executive orders targeting both ByteDance and Chinese messaging app WeChat, citing security concerns.

With the deadline for TikTok’s fate rapidly approaching, all eyes are on ByteDance and the US government to determine whether Amazon’s bid—or another offer—will secure the platform’s future in the United States.

The euro reached a nearly five-month high against the US dollar after President Donald Trump announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs, leading to a broad decline in the greenback. Global markets reacted sharply to the news, with stock indices plummeting and bond yields dropping amid growing economic uncertainty.

Following Trump’s announcement on Wednesday night, the euro rose 0.5% against the dollar, reaching 1.0915 at 5:17 am, close to its five-month peak of 1.0953. The surge nearly erased losses suffered since Trump’s re-election on November 5. The US president stated that his administration would impose a minimum 10% tariff on all countries, with additional higher levies targeting key trading partners. China, the European Union, and Vietnam topped the list of affected nations, facing tariffs of 34%, 20%, and 46%, respectively. China’s import duties will rise to 54% when combined with existing blanket tariffs.

The US dollar weakened significantly against major currencies, including the euro, Japanese yen, British pound, and Swiss franc, as investors feared economic repercussions. The yield on 10-year US Treasury bonds fell to its lowest level since October 2024, reflecting expectations of a slowdown. Meanwhile, commodity-linked currencies, such as the Australian and Canadian dollars, declined against the US dollar, as falling crude oil and copper prices weighed on their performance.

Global Markets Tumble

The tariff announcement triggered a broad sell-off in global equities, with stock markets across Asia experiencing significant losses on Thursday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped nearly 3%, China’s Hang Seng Index slid 1.5%, while Australia’s ASX 200 and South Korea’s Kospi declined by 1% each. The selloff extended to mining stocks, with Australia’s BHP falling 2.4% and Rio Tinto dropping 2.8%. Weaker copper prices also pressured European equities, particularly those tied to the commodities sector.

Market analyst Josh Gilbert of eToro noted that while Australia has minimal direct trade exposure to the US, the broader impact on China and other Asian economies could weigh heavily on Australia’s export-driven market. The economic fallout could intensify if global demand slows and commodity prices continue to decline.

In the US, stock futures pointed to a sharp downturn, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average losing 2.01%, the S&P 500 falling 2.78%, and the Nasdaq dropping 3.3% in pre-market trading. European markets were also set to open lower, with Germany’s DAX futures down 1.89% as of 5:30 am CET. Tech stocks, particularly the “Magnificent Seven,” suffered heavy losses in after-hours trading, with Tesla down 4.5%, Apple losing 2.3%, and Nvidia declining 2.4%. Analysts warned that companies with significant exposure to China, such as Apple, could face further pressure in the coming weeks.

Gold Reaches Record High Amid Economic Uncertainty

The heightened risk-off sentiment sent gold prices soaring to a new all-time high, as investors sought safe-haven assets. Gold futures surged to $3,195 per ounce on COMEX, while spot gold touched $3,167 before slightly retreating.

Kyle Rodda, a senior market analyst at Capital.com, warned that uncertainties surrounding Trump’s trade policies could drive further demand for gold. “There was no clear indication that the Trump administration will stop here with ‘trade wars.’ That could mean further uncertainty,” Rodda said.

Gold has been one of the top-performing asset classes, rising 20% this year following a 30% surge in 2024. Factors such as increased central bank purchases, concerns over US dollar depreciation, and investor hedging strategies have contributed to gold’s sustained rally.

As markets brace for further volatility, traders remain cautious, with attention focused on potential retaliatory measures from affected trading partners and the broader implications for global trade.