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Don’t fall for the trap of the Taco trade

This trading ‘strategy’, Trump Always Chickens Out, entails timing the market according to when Trump threatens tariffs or backs out of them

    • The Taco trade (Trump Always Chickens Out) anticipates a market recovery after the US president backs off from his tariff threats.
    • The Taco trade (Trump Always Chickens Out) anticipates a market recovery after the US president backs off from his tariff threats. PHOTO: AFP
    Published Tue, Jun 10, 2025 · 07:30 PM

    [SINGAPORE] At first, it was ominous. Then, it became obvious. There’s a new trade in town called the Taco trade, or Trump Always Chickens Out.

    Here’s how it works: When US President Donald Trump announced his Liberation Day tariffs on Apr 2, the S&P 500 index tanked by more than 10 per cent in days.

    His tariff threat lasted less than a week before he backed down, pausing the implementation of higher tariffs for 90 days. In response, the index jumped by 9.5 per cent in a single day.

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