Trump’s Tech Tariffs Could Shake Global Trade This Year

• Trump’s new tech tariffs strain US-China relations and spark global trade retaliation.
• Crypto gains attention as institutions seek stability amid tariff-driven market uncertainty.

US President Donald Trump has once again shaken up the global market with his new policy: import tariffs directly targeting the technology sector. The main focus is on so-called “critical technologies”—a category that includes semiconductors, laptops, and flat screens.

Although not all of them are subject to full tariffs, the market reaction is still strong. Apple, Dell, and HP, for example, have experienced great pressure because they are worried that the increase in production costs will burden consumers.

On the other hand, Trump announced tariff exemptions for smartphones and laptops. This step may sound like a compromise, but the pressure remains. Many key components are still subject to high tariffs. For example, some analysts estimate that the price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max could reach $2,000 if the supply chain is not changed.

The problem is not just the price. Factories in the United States are not ready to absorb such large production volumes. Even giants like TSMC have had problems building a chip facility in Arizona—costs are soaring, human resources are lacking, and technicians have to be imported from Taiwan. So if the intention is to make everything in the US, the question is: who will make it?

Tensions have heated up when China retaliates. After Trump continued to impose 125% tariffs on Chinese products even though other countries were given a 90-day reprieve, President Xi Jinping did not remain silent. The retaliatory tariffs came in the same amount. It felt like a trade rhyme, but the stakes were hundreds of billions of dollars.

The market certainly did not remain silent. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink even said that Trump’s tariffs could trigger a market correction of up to 20%. But interestingly, he also called this condition an opportunity.

According to him, crypto could be a new escape amidst turmoil like this. And it turns out it’s not just empty talk—BlackRock reported an influx of $3 billion into their digital asset products in the first quarter of 2025. This means that large institutions are starting to dare to play in sectors that were previously considered too wild.

Furthermore, CNF reported that Trump had also canceled the IRS rule at the last minute that previously required strict reporting on DeFi platforms. This move opens up more room for innovation without too much intervention from tax authorities. An interesting signal, especially coming from a figure who is known to not hesitate to suppress the market.

But amid all this maneuvering, a big question remains: will this tariff approach actually strengthen the American economy, or will it create a bigger hole in the global system?

Big Promises, Bigger Hurdles in Domestic Manufacturing Push

When Trump talks about producing more goods at home, many cheer. But when you look at the reality on the ground, the dream seems like a long way from being finished. The US manufacturing infrastructure is not ready, and skilled talent can’t grow like cacti in the desert.

Not only that, but the $22.8 billion deal that BlackRock is exploring to manage a port on the Panama Canal also faces legal and geopolitical challenges. So if a big player like BlackRock can get into trouble, what about smaller companies that rely on global supply chains?

Crypto Steps In as Tariffs Shake Global Certainty

Amid economic pressure, the market is starting to look to crypto as an escape. Fink calls it an alternative, and data on the flow of funds into digital asset products suggests it’s not just a passing fad. In fact, it could be the beginning of a new chapter, where crypto truly enters institutional investment portfolios.

The question now is: can the crypto industry take advantage of this gap before new tariffs truly change the global power map? Or will they just get swept up in a big wave that has no clear end?

What is clear is that this year has not been a boring year. And if Trump continues to beat the trade war drum, get ready for us all to dance amid the noise of big changes.