Barriers to US exports made Trump's tariff policy inevitable when he was re-elected and, by any reading of his former US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, this policy was easy to foresee.

Now we are stuck with it, we have to hope those who govern us will react appropriately. If so, Trump may have rescued free trade.

–

Tariffs are terrible – but Trump may save free trade

In politics, asking nicely for sound policy based on high principle does not work. Alas. Trump's policy is massively disruptive and potentially hugely damaging: how could good come of it?

https://fightingforafreefuture.substack.com/p/tariffs-are-terrible-but-trump-may