Meta Stock Drops 9% Thursday As Tariff Fears Shake Tech Sector: What You Need To Know

Meta Platforms Inc. META shares traded lower on Thursday as broader markets reacted to President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff plan.

What To Know: The Trump administration announced reciprocal tariffs on several countries on Wednesday. Trump invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to justify the tariffs, citing a $1.2 trillion trade deficit in 2024 and arguing that prior administrations failed to address what he calls unfair trade practices.

The new measures include specific tariff rates on major trade partners. The policy changes have drawn swift condemnation from global leaders and are expected to prompt retaliatory measures, which could further pressure global markets.

Markets reacted negatively to the announcement, with major indexes facing declines of as much as 6%. Analysts warn that the tariffs could fuel inflation, increase costs for U.S. consumers and heighten recession risks.

See Also: ‘Trump Tariffs Could Blow Up Apple’: Analyst Estimates $39.5 Billion Impact

Investors are also concerned about potential countermeasures from targeted countries, which could further disrupt global trade and impact multinational companies like Meta, which relies on international markets for advertising revenue and data infrastructure.

Meta's decline reflects the broader market sell-off, with investors reassessing the impact of escalating trade tensions on technology and communication firms. Investors fear that increased tariffs could impact digital advertising spending. Furthermore, if retaliatory tariffs target digital services or data-related businesses, companies like Meta could face additional pressure.

META Price Action: Meta shares closed Thursday down 8.96% at $531.62, according to Benzinga Pro.

Read Next:

• Wall Street Wipes Out $2 Trillion, Apple Eyes Worst Day Since COVID-19 Pandemic, Oil Plummets: What’s Driving Markets Thursday?

Image via Shutterstock.