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European and Asian Shares Fall Amid Fears of U.S.-China Trade War European and Asian Shares Fall Amid Fears of U.S.-China Trade War
(about 2 hours later)
FRANKFURT — A brewing trade war between China and the United States sent markets reeling across Asia and Europe on Friday, as investors registered their anxiety that the dispute could hobble an otherwise healthy global economy.FRANKFURT — A brewing trade war between China and the United States sent markets reeling across Asia and Europe on Friday, as investors registered their anxiety that the dispute could hobble an otherwise healthy global economy.
Europe’s major stock indexes fell in morning trading, following deep declines in Asian bourses and sharp falls on Wall Street on Thursday. Europe’s major stock indexes fell in morning trading, following deep declines in Asian bourses after sharp falls on Wall Street on Thursday.
Europeans took only small comfort from the Trump administration’s decision to exempt the European Union and other key allies from steel and aluminum tariffs. Business managers and political leaders fear that Europe could be caught in the crossfire of a trade war between two economic superpowers. Europeans took only small comfort from the Trump administration’s decision to exempt the European Union from steel and aluminum tariffs. Business managers and political leaders fear that Europe could be caught in the crossfire of a trade war between two economic superpowers.
The United States is Europe’s largest trading partner, but European countries also have deep ties with China, which is one of the largest buyers of European cars and machinery, and a major source of investment in Europe. The United States is Europe’s largest trading partner, but European countries also have deep ties with China, which is one of the largest buyers of European cars and machinery, and a major source of investment in Europe. Shares of the German automakers BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen all declined Friday morning, reflecting the importance of the Chinese market to their sales.
Shares of the German automakers BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen all declined Friday morning, reflecting the importance of the Chinese market to their sales. And by securing an exemption from the tariffs, Europe could be perceived as taking sides with the United States against China, said Gabriel Felbermayr, an economist at the Ifo Institute, a research organization in Munich.
Benchmark indexes in London, Paris and Frankfurt were all down more than 1 percent in morning trading on Friday. The losses in Asia were much greater. In Tokyo, major exporters like Toyota and Sony helped to lead a 4.5 percent drop in the key index. Shares in Shanghai closed down 3.4 percent. South Korean stocks fell 3.2 percent. “Instead of a trade war with the United States, Europe now faces the threat of a trade war with China,” Mr. Felbermayr said in a statement.
Benchmark indexes in London, Paris and Frankfurt were all down on Friday. The losses in Asia were much greater. In Tokyo, major exporters like Toyota and Sony helped to lead a 4.5 percent drop in the key index. Shares in Shanghai closed down 3.4 percent. South Korean stocks fell 3.2 percent.
Futures markets signaled that further declines in shares on Wall Street were likely on Friday.Futures markets signaled that further declines in shares on Wall Street were likely on Friday.
“This can turn ugly on a global scale very quickly,” Robert Carnell, chief economist for the Dutch financial services group ING Asia, wrote in a note to clients.“This can turn ugly on a global scale very quickly,” Robert Carnell, chief economist for the Dutch financial services group ING Asia, wrote in a note to clients.
Deutsche Bank provided an example of how uncertainty caused by the Trump administration measures could cause chain reactions that would affect other industries.
On Thursday, Deutsche Bank sold shares in its DWS Asset Management unit on the stock exchange. But on Friday, declines in global stocks pulled DWS shares below the initial public offering price. Shares of Deutsche Bank, which retained an 80 percent stake in DWS, then fell more than 4 percent before recovering slightly.
Markets were following the lead of stocks in the United States, which fell for a second straight day on Thursday, as President Trump announced $60 billion worth of annual tariffs on Chinese imports. That appeared to be the opening salvo of a trade war, as Beijing announced its own retaliatory tariffs on more than 100 items, including American pork and wine.Markets were following the lead of stocks in the United States, which fell for a second straight day on Thursday, as President Trump announced $60 billion worth of annual tariffs on Chinese imports. That appeared to be the opening salvo of a trade war, as Beijing announced its own retaliatory tariffs on more than 100 items, including American pork and wine.
The trade measures against China were the latest demonstration of Mr. Trump’s “America First” agenda, and they were announced a day before tariffs on global steel and aluminum imports were to come into force.The trade measures against China were the latest demonstration of Mr. Trump’s “America First” agenda, and they were announced a day before tariffs on global steel and aluminum imports were to come into force.
For Europeans, the reprieve announced by the Trump administration from the protectionist measures could be brief.For Europeans, the reprieve announced by the Trump administration from the protectionist measures could be brief.
The exemptions will expire on May 1 unless the allies are able to negotiate “satisfactory alternative means” to address what the administration calls the threat to national security resulting from the United States’ current levels of steel and aluminum imports. The exempted group also includes Canada, Mexico, Australia, Argentina, Brazil and South Korea.The exemptions will expire on May 1 unless the allies are able to negotiate “satisfactory alternative means” to address what the administration calls the threat to national security resulting from the United States’ current levels of steel and aluminum imports. The exempted group also includes Canada, Mexico, Australia, Argentina, Brazil and South Korea.
In addition, the White House said it might impose import quotas to prevent too much foreign metal from flooding into the United States.In addition, the White House said it might impose import quotas to prevent too much foreign metal from flooding into the United States.
Tensions escalated on Friday as Beijing responded to Washington with its own tariffs and a warning to “avoid damage to the broader picture of Chinese-U.S. cooperation.”Tensions escalated on Friday as Beijing responded to Washington with its own tariffs and a warning to “avoid damage to the broader picture of Chinese-U.S. cooperation.”
Some American businesses in China also voiced concern. “Our members do not want to see a trade war,” said Kenneth Jarrett, the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai. “The stakes are too high and there would be no winner.”Some American businesses in China also voiced concern. “Our members do not want to see a trade war,” said Kenneth Jarrett, the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai. “The stakes are too high and there would be no winner.”
But he added that American businesses in China wanted “fairer treatment and improved market access in China. The Chinese government has the ability to deliver against that reasonable expectation.”But he added that American businesses in China wanted “fairer treatment and improved market access in China. The Chinese government has the ability to deliver against that reasonable expectation.”