The Economic Perils of Trump's Tariff Policies

How Tariff-Driven Trade Strategies Could Undermine the U.S. Economy

As Donald Trump prepares for his next term, his proposed trade policies threaten to disrupt the U.S. economy with tariffs as high as 60% being levied on imports from China and up to 100% on BRICS nations. These measures, intended to pressure foreign competitors and extract better trade deals, could instead backfire and drive up consumer prices, strain international alliances, and weaken the global competitiveness of American businesses.

The resurgence of Trump’s tariff-centered agenda marks a return to punitive trade strategies that risk amplifying inflation, undermining industrial innovation, and isolating the United States from critical allies. When combined with his proposed mass deportations of undocumented workers, these policies would exacerbate workforce shortages, increase production costs, and erode the strong economic gains inherited from President Biden, leaving Americans worse off.

Trump views tariffs as a tool to punish foreign competitors but their true impact falls square…