• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs

2

As Big Tech showers employees with perks to win the talent war, Nvidia built a nearly $5 trillion company by making people pay for their own lunch

3

Mark Zuckerberg feeds his cows macadamia nuts and beer to create the 'highest-quality beef in the world' on his $300 million estate in Hawaii

1

Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs

2

As Big Tech showers employees with perks to win the talent war, Nvidia built a nearly $5 trillion company by making people pay for their own lunch

3

Mark Zuckerberg feeds his cows macadamia nuts and beer to create the 'highest-quality beef in the world' on his $300 million estate in Hawaii
Politics

Trump may roll back Mexico and Canada tariffs as soon as today, but conflicting messages are giving consumers and Wall Street whiplash

Eleanor Pringle
By
Eleanor Pringle
Eleanor Pringle
Senior Reporter, Economics and Markets
Down Arrow Button Icon
Eleanor Pringle
By
Eleanor Pringle
Eleanor Pringle
Senior Reporter, Economics and Markets
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 5, 2025, 6:41 AM ET
President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress in the Capitol building's House chamber in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 2025.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick hinted President Trump's tariffs could be rolled back within 24 hours of their announcement.Tom Brenner for The Washington Post—Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.
  • President Trump holds firm on tariffs, framing them as essential for America’s economic strength, while Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggests they could be lifted soon. The uncertainty around tariffs is unsettling markets and consumers, with analysts warning of inflationary effects, while businesses weigh the impact on investment, pricing, and domestic production.

President Trump may be holding firm on his tariff stance but his Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is already hinting at retreat.

As America pushed ahead with 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, as well as a 20% hike on China and potential sanctions on the EU to come, President Trump admitted there will be “a little disturbance.”

Whether that discomfort would be suffered by markets or the American consumer he didn’t make clear, but added: “We’re OK with that. It won’t be much.”

“Tariffs are not just about protecting American jobs, they’re about protecting the soul of our country. Tariffs are about making America rich again, and making America great again,” the president justified. “It’s happening and it will happen rather quickly.”

Businesses and consumers are already feeling the heat. The S&P500 has suffered several bumpy days after markets in Asia hiccuped at the end of last week.

Meanwhile, the Federal Open Market Committee is already preparing for an inflationary hit to consumers, as a vast number of goods and services the public enjoys are imported and thus will likely shoot up in price.

But while President Trump framed the turbulence as a necessary by-product of his wider policy, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is already touting a potential turnaround, saying the tariffs on Canada and Mexico could be dropped as soon as today.

The tariff war began because America wanted immediate action on illegal immigration from the two neighboring countries, as well as moves made to reduce drugs like fentanyl being moved across borders.

Secretary Lutnick said work on the border had been satisfactory but drugs were still a problem.

“The fentanyl deaths are just not declining in the way we expected,” Lutnick told Fox News in an interview last night. “Both the Mexicans and the Canadians were on the phone with me all day today trying to show that they’ll do better and the president’s listening because…he’s very, very fair and very reasonable.

“I think he’s going to work something out with them—it’s not going to be a pause, none of that pause stuff—but I think he’s going to figure out: ‘You do more and I’ll meet you in the middle somewhere’ and we’re going to probably be announcing that tomorrow.”

When pushed about whether that would mean tariffs being pulled back from 25%, Lutnick responded that President Trump is looking at the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA).

“He’s really looking carefully at that trying to figure out is there a way in there that he can come in the middle where he’ll give the Canadians and Mexicans something, but they’ve got to do more,” Secretary Lutnick added.

Adding uncertainty

While the somewhat differing rhetoric from Trump and Lutnick may be an attempt to calm the waters, it’s only adding to uncertainty for analysts.

As Paul Donovan, chief economist at UBS global wealth management wrote in a note seen by Fortune this morning: “Trump did suggest trade tariffs would create ‘a little disturbance’, which seems to suggest a commitment to keep taxing U.S. consumers. However, there was a faint sound of retreat from U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick, who suggested that some of the tax burden may be lifted for consumers of Canadian and Mexican products as soon as today.

“Uncertainty is a management style, but there are consequences. Corporate investments and household savings are in part determined by certainty around expectations for the future.

“More visible taxes (e.g. an avocado tax or a propane tax) have the power to affect consumer behavior more quickly than less visible taxes (e.g. aluminum taxes).”

On corporate investment, at least, Goldman Sachs had some better news from analysts.

In a note produced prior to Trump’s latest tariffs being introduced—and speculation about when they will end increasing as a result—Goldman noted that “surveyed analysts reported that policy uncertainty was elevated but most did not expect firms to delay or cancel investment as a result.”

The note added that—per its monthly Goldman Sachs Analyst Index (GSAI)—”Uncertainty related to tariffs, immigration policy, and potential regulatory changes was cited most frequently.

“Aside from impacts on investment, analysts suggested that firms might respond to elevated uncertainty or potential policy changes by raising prices or increasing domestic manufacturing and sourcing.”

Subscribe to Fortune Gulf Brief. Every Tuesday, this new newsletter delivers clear-eyed, authoritative intelligence on the deals, decisions, policies, and power shifts shaping one of the world’s most consequential regions, written for the people who need to act on it. Sign up here.
About the Author
Eleanor Pringle
By Eleanor PringleSenior Reporter, Economics and Markets
LinkedIn icon

Eleanor Pringle is an award-winning senior reporter at Fortune covering news, the economy, and personal finance. Eleanor previously worked as a business correspondent and news editor in regional news in the U.K. She completed her journalism training with the Press Association after earning a degree from the University of East Anglia.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Politics

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Politics

t
CryptoWhite House
‘We are in a new era’: Trump’s bombshell $2.2 billion income haul, the ‘Big Player Theory’ and what happens when the president becomes the bubble
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 3, 2026
2 hours ago
Photo: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
PoliticsIran
In Iran, regime officials who survived the war intended to kill them appear in public for dayslong funeral of the late Supreme Leader Khamenei
By Nasser Karimi, Jon Gambrell and The Associated PressJuly 3, 2026
3 hours ago
Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin Attends ASEAN-Russia Summit
Energyputin
Russians live with fuel shortages and rationing as Putin insists the war against Ukraine will go on
By The Associated PressJuly 3, 2026
3 hours ago
Photo: Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner
Environmentjared kushner
Police use tear gas and pepper spray against Albanians protesting Trump family plans to develop unspoiled island into a luxury resort
By The Associated PressJuly 3, 2026
4 hours ago
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
EconomyDebt
AI’s $2.2 trillion deficit fix is already half fake, economists say
By Tristan BoveJuly 2, 2026
17 hours ago
m
Politicsfraud
Trump fights fraud by freezing funding for New York’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
By Ali Swenson, Geoff Mulvihill and The Associated PressJuly 2, 2026
17 hours ago

Most Popular

Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs
Law
Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs
By Wyatte Grantham-Philips and The Associated PressJuly 2, 2026
18 hours ago
As Big Tech showers employees with perks to win the talent war, Nvidia built a nearly $5 trillion company by making people pay for their own lunch
Big Tech
As Big Tech showers employees with perks to win the talent war, Nvidia built a nearly $5 trillion company by making people pay for their own lunch
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJuly 1, 2026
2 days ago
Mark Zuckerberg feeds his cows macadamia nuts and beer to create the 'highest-quality beef in the world' on his $300 million estate in Hawaii
Success
Mark Zuckerberg feeds his cows macadamia nuts and beer to create the 'highest-quality beef in the world' on his $300 million estate in Hawaii
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 2, 2026
19 hours ago
Current price of oil as of July 2, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of July 2, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 2, 2026
23 hours ago
Americans are escaping the U.S. for New Zealand where house prices have hit a new low—but only wealthy Americans with $3 million spare can invest
Success
Americans are escaping the U.S. for New Zealand where house prices have hit a new low—but only wealthy Americans with $3 million spare can invest
By Emma BurleighJuly 2, 2026
21 hours ago
Economists have found an answer to slowing cognitive decline: Avoid retiring early, study finds
Economy
Economists have found an answer to slowing cognitive decline: Avoid retiring early, study finds
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 2, 2026
20 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.