Following the announcement of 10% reciprocal tariffs and increased levies on countries with large trade surpluses, markets tumbled—but not all ETF categories moved the same way. Defensive sector ETFs like food, gold miners, and health care weathered the selloff, while retail, banking, and semiconductors experienced steep losses. Country ETFs diverged sharply as well, with Brazil seeing modest gains and Vietnam sinking over 10%.
This timely CFRA Thematic Research report, powered by data from the FUNDynamix platform, breaks down the performance impact across sectors, regions, and asset classes. Despite the market shock, these movements offer valuable clues for investors on how future tariff negotiations and retaliatory measures could play out.
Our policy experts anticipate litigation against the proposed tariffs—with just a 35% chance of success—and note the potential for upcoming bilateral trade talks to influence which sectors and ETFs remain most exposed.
If you’re managing exposure to trade-sensitive sectors or looking to position defensively amid global economic uncertainty, this report provides actionable, data-backed insights into ETF behavior during real-world policy volatility.
What You’ll Learn
In this exclusive research report, you will gain insights into:
- Which equity sectors and country ETFs performed best and worst following the April 2025 tariff news
- Why defensive strategies like food, gold, and health care ETFs outperformed amid volatility
- The unexpected decline in energy ETFs and the sector-specific impacts of import-dependent companies
- How country ETFs like Brazil and Vietnam reacted to tariff announcements
- CFRA’s outlook on trade-related litigation and potential bilateral negotiations that may shape ETF performance in 2025
