News Briefs

Greg Ip from the Wall Street Journal writes that recently-imposed tariffs will likely hurt exporters even more than importers. U.S. tariffs will decrease demand for foreign goods and services, which will in turn deprive trading partners of money to buy U.S. exports, especially when foreign retaliatory tariffs make U.S. exports more expensive. WSJ

The Wall Street Journal reports that a flattening yield curve has pushed some Fed officials to question whether the Fed should slow its current rate hike schedule to avoid an inverted yield curve – which has historically signaled an imminent recession. Last week, the yield curve fell to its lowest level since 2007, and further narrowing in the yield curve could compel the Fed to raise rates just once more in 2018 rather than the two additional rate hikes currently planned. WSJ