Goldman Sachs(US:GS) Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2025-12-17 02:00Core Viewpoint - Goldman Sachs anticipates that the Trump administration is likely to implement tariff reductions and fiscal stimulus measures before the upcoming midterm elections to boost voter sentiment [1][2]. Tariff Reductions - Goldman Sachs predicts that by the end of 2026, the effective tariff rate in the U.S. will decrease by approximately 2 percentage points from current levels, although it will still be 9.5 percentage points higher than early 2025 [1][10]. - The Supreme Court is expected to rule that tariffs imposed by the Trump administration under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) exceed its legal authority, which could lead to a significant reduction in tariffs [3][10]. - If the Supreme Court rules against the IEEPA tariffs, the Trump administration may need to rely on other legal authorizations, such as the Trade Act of 1974, which allows for tariffs of up to 15% for a period of 150 days [3][4]. - Current IEEPA tariffs contribute approximately 7.5 percentage points to the effective tariff rate, with a potential reduction of about 1.6 percentage points if tariffs are capped at 15% [4]. Fiscal Stimulus Measures - The Trump administration may also utilize fiscal policy to improve economic sentiment ahead of the midterm elections, with a potential second round of fiscal stimulus facing significant hurdles [5][8]. - Goldman Sachs estimates that the first round of fiscal measures will peak in its impact on growth by the second quarter of 2026, with tax refunds expected to increase by nearly $100 billion from February to April [5][6]. - There is a 50% probability that at least $1,000 in stimulus checks will be issued to Americans by the end of 2026, despite challenges in passing a comprehensive fiscal plan [6][8]. Housing Policy and Regulatory Reforms - Goldman Sachs believes that administrative measures related to housing are likely to be implemented, focusing on government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac [9][10]. - Potential options include adjustments in loan pricing, the introduction of 50-year mortgage products, and possibly expanding the GSEs' balance sheets to hold more mortgage-backed securities [9]. - Legislative reforms to simplify the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) are also expected to have a significant chance of becoming law in the coming months, which would streamline federal reviews of major infrastructure projects [10].