Stocks drifted early Tuesday as investors look for more details on where tariffs stand for autos and tech products after President Trump signaled some wiggle room on Monday. Stocks rallied to start the shortened holiday week notching the first back-to-back gains for the Dow since late March and for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq,

Trump has described the tariffs as "reciprocal," saying the steep toll will correct a grievance he's held for "35 years:" that the U.S. is being "ripped off" by trade imbalances. The president has claimed the tariffs will prompt countries to try to negotiate a deal with the U.

China on Wednesday removed Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen from his role as trade negotiator and replaced him with a former Chinese representative to the World Trade Organization, amid an escalating tariff war with the United States.

Although Trump has paused some tariffs, he has kept in place 145% duties on China, the world's second-largest economy.

US stocks fell as President Trump's rapid trade policy shifts kept investors on edge ahead of the next batch of corporate earnings.