Cathie Wood Predicts Trump’s 2025 Tariffs May Unleash U.S. Market Chaos—or Opportunity

Crypto’s queen of disruption sees silver linings in trade wars. Ark Invest’s Wood suggests Trump’s looming tariffs could accidentally grease the wheels for decentralized finance—just as Wall Street banks start sweating over their 20th-century business models.

Tariffs as innovation accelerant? Wood’s contrarian take cuts through DC’s protectionist noise. She bets trade barriers will force supply chains onto blockchain rails—while legacy finance scrambles to keep up.

One trader’s trade war is another’s arbitrage. As Washington resurrects Smoot-Hawley vibes, crypto’s borderless protocols stand ready to profit. The irony? Protectionism might just kill the very institutions it aims to protect.

President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs have caused quite a stir, shaking markets and raising concerns. But could this shakeup actually be a sign of better things ahead? 

Cathie Wood, founder of ARK Investment Management, believes the recent volatility might mark a turning point for the US economy and stock markets.

In a Bloomberg Television interview on May 19, 2025, Wood shared her positive outlook: the tariffs announced in April could lead to freer, more open markets – creating new opportunities across several industries.

Cathie Wood Sees Tariffs as a Way to Free Up Markets, Not Build Walls

Many see Trump’s tariffs as building barriers, but Wood thinks the opposite. She believes the WHITE House’s plan aims to reduce trade restrictions and open markets.

“If that is where we end up, that’s a tax cut. That’s a positive,” Wood stated.

She pointed to the recent US-UK trade deal as a good example, which cut tariffs on UK car exports from 27.5% down to 10%. Wood hopes this is just the start of more agreements that turn international trade into a “two-way street” benefiting both the US and its partners.

Technology, Healthcare, and Innovation Could Gain Big

Wood also highlighted how sectors like technology, healthcare, and consumer goods could benefit from fewer trade barriers.

Her firm, ARK Investment Management, focuses heavily on disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and genomics. Wood believes that reducing trade restrictions in these areas could speed up innovation and growth.

In healthcare, she stressed that AI is especially powerful. New AI tools are helping to speed up drug discovery and development – an opportunity the market hasn’t fully recognized yet.

When asked about the rising US budget deficit, Wood was optimistic. She thinks rapid technological progress will help the US economy grow enough to overcome the deficit. “We can grow our way out of the deficit,” she said.

Why Investors Should Watch This Closely

Cathie Wood’s views offer a fresh perspective amid all the market uncertainty. She believes that Trump’s tariffs might actually help lower trade barriers, boost growth, and drive innovation – ideas worth keeping in mind as investors look beyond short-term ups and downs.