Source: CounterPunch
by Imran Khalid
“The given rationale behind Trump’s tariff policy is that if a country levies a 10 percent tariff on American goods, the United States should reciprocate. However, this approach reflects a fundamental misapprehension of the mechanics of international trade. American manufacturers are heavily reliant on imported components for assembling final products. By inflating the cost of these inputs through tariffs, the competitiveness of U.S.-made goods in global markets will be significantly undermined. Moreover, a substantial segment of the American workforce is employed in export-driven industries—from agriculture to automotive manufacturing—that thrive on open markets. A retaliatory trade policy would inevitably provoke foreign governments to impose counter-tariffs on American exports, directly jeopardizing these industries and their workers.” (04/08/25)