深观察丨“关税绝非解决美国问题的万灵药”

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Reserve's decision to maintain interest rates is influenced by President Trump's tariff policies, which have created significant economic uncertainty and impacted inflation forecasts [1][4][6]. Group 1: Federal Reserve's Position - Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell stated that the central bank has refrained from cutting interest rates this year primarily due to the uncertainties brought about by the government's changing tariff agenda [4][5]. - Powell emphasized that the Fed's approach is data-driven rather than politically motivated, receiving support from other central bank leaders, including European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde [4][6]. - The Fed's decision to keep rates unchanged has occurred four times since the beginning of the year, despite increasing pressure from the White House for rapid rate cuts [4][5]. Group 2: Economic Impact of Tariffs - The ongoing trade tensions and tariffs have led to a reduction in the total inventory of goods in the U.S., with companies experiencing price increases of approximately 8% to 15% on many products [8]. - Consumer confidence in the U.S. has declined, with the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) dropping to 93, the lowest level since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily due to concerns over tariffs and their impact on personal finances [9]. - The unpredictability of the current administration's policies has cast a shadow over the economic and employment outlook, raising fears of a potential recession [9]. Group 3: Manufacturing Sector Concerns - Experts warn that tariffs are not a panacea for U.S. economic issues, as the return of manufacturing jobs will require significant time and investment, which is hindered by the unstable economic environment [12]. - Even if manufacturing were to return to the U.S., it may not lead to an increase in jobs due to higher operational costs and a shift towards automation to offset tariff impacts [13]. - Historical data indicates that during Trump's previous term, while manufacturing jobs increased by 0.4%, this was offset by rising costs and job losses due to retaliatory tariffs, suggesting that significant job growth in manufacturing is unlikely in the foreseeable future [13][14].