A WallStreetBets Investor Says '30 Years Of Globalization Has Ended.' Now They're Asking, 'How Bad Will The Bear Market Be?'

A Reddit user on r/WallStreetBets posted a claim that many are thinking: “Today, 30 years of globalization has ended.” They weren't alone in feeling alarmed, as the comment thread quickly turned into a heated debate about tariffs, inflation and how much pain investors should expect.

Tariffs Trigger Market Anxiety

The post came just one day after President Donald Trump announced sweeping new tariffs on nearly all foreign imports. As of Wednesday, the U.S. now imposes at least a 10% baseline tariff on goods from almost every country.

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The move, dubbed “Liberation Day” by Trump, includes higher rates for key trading partners: 34% on Chinese goods (on top of existing tariffs), 20% on EU imports, and as high as 49% on goods from Cambodia.

“Maybe it’s time to get out for an extended period of time???” the Redditor asked.

Historical Comparisons and Fear of the Unknown

In the original post, the user provided a breakdown of bear market history. “The average bear market sees a decline of around 35%,” they wrote, noting that some have dropped as much as 83%, like during the Great Depression, and that the average bear market lasts about 15 months.

Some Redditors agreed with the gloomy outlook. One commented, “Even if Trump said ‘April Fools!’ tomorrow, damage has already been done. People are boycotting U.S. goods, not traveling to the U.S. We’re in for another 20% downside.”

Another wrote, “We aren’t looking at a ‘bear market.’ We’re looking at absolute chaos, disrupted supply chains, and abandoned markets.”

Others pointed to historical parallels. “The last time there were comparable tariffs was when the Smoot-Hawley Act was enacted in 1930. You may notice this coincides with a major economic event,” one user noted.

Split Opinions on What Comes Next

But not everyone agrees on how bad things will get.

Some users mocked the panic, saying Reddit was overreacting. “This is a dumb market condition created,” one said. Another said, “A lot of people believe these tariffs are part of a broader negotiation strategy, not the final outcome.”

There was also plenty of cynicism. “Trump could announce next week he’s lifting tariffs to whoever kisses the ring. Not saying you shouldn’t be greatly concerned right now, but today is only the beginning (of whatever will come next…).” one user commented.

Others see opportunity. “This is rich Boi buying season,” one user posted. “Especially considering the echo chamber here.”

Is Globalization Really Over?

The idea that globalization has ended was another hot topic.

Many thought that globalization had ended for the U.S., but that the rest of the world would keep trading and honoring agreements.

Some saw a geopolitical shift in progress. “Trump is uniting countries like no one else since WWII,” one person wrote, pointing to new cooperation among traditional rivals like Japan, South Korea and China.

No One Knows What’s Next

The overwhelming theme across hundreds of replies is uncertainty.

Despite all the charts, jokes and dire predictions, there was a clear consensus: no one knows how deep this bear market will go—or if we’re even in one yet.

“Bear markets are about unfavorable conditions. These are attacks,” one user concluded. And perhaps that's what stings most for the r/WallStreetBets crowd—not just the losses, but the feeling that they're playing in a rigged game where the rules keep changing.

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