President Trump is holding firm on his tariff policy, eager to bring jobs back to American soil while promising tax cuts that the American people are clamoring for. As Trump gears up to slap tariffs on China, one might think he’s attacking a long-standing adversary with economic finesse, but one with an understandable chip on its shoulder. China isn’t taking this lightly, planning to respond with their own set of tariffs on April 10th, a move that looks suspiciously like a game of international economic Jenga.
Meanwhile, the Democrats, known for their love of regulation—and let’s face it, a good argument—are waving their hands in hysteria trying to undo the president’s national emergency declaration about these tariffs. This sudden disdain for tariffs is a curious twist considering the Democrats seemed quite cozy with tariffs when a certain former president, whose name rhymes with “Obama,” was in office. It’s like a peculiar political amnesia has swept the nation, and they’re conveniently forgetting the past in favor of a new narrative.
Now, in this unfolding drama, it’s noteworthy to point out the real imbalance that President Trump is trying to address. The U.S. has prided itself on being the most open and least restrictive economy on the globe, yet it suffers under the burden of a paltry 2% average tariff on Chinese goods, while our exports face a hefty 35% Chinese tariff. If that’s fair, then I’m the Queen of England. Trump’s plan might be bumpy, but it’s about time someone slammed on the brakes and took a hard look at the GPS. But hey, who actually wants balanced trade when you can just let American workers get tossed out on the streets, right?
Some believe Trump’s willingness to challenge China, a country that’s been accused of everything from unleashing a global pandemic to sending spy balloons, is a bold move. Still, others are white-knuckling it, fearing a spike in consumer prices, like a $2400 iPhone. It seems some folks are more content with letting the market dictate everything until it comes time to actually pay that much for electronics or see the cost of a new car soar just about as high as the national debt. But Trump’s putting the proverbial screw to the Chinese economy, and while that may sting a bit, it seems like the kind of calculated risk businesses understand.
As this tariff tit-for-tat ping-pongs back and forth, businesses are forced to reevaluate their dependencies on China, a country the U.S. has arguably enabled for two decades. The question remains: Which is more painful, the price hike of imported goods or the endless job losses that have bled American factories dry? Trump’s all-in on this deal, just as he promised, likely giving sleepless nights to anyone living off tried-and-true practices. It takes a certain gumption—or perhaps a certain level of controlled chaos—to challenge decades of economic complacency. But one thing’s certain, debris or treasure, the man isn’t afraid to kick the hornet’s nest and see what reforms buzz out.
