Trump’s trade war is not making America great again. It’s making the [U.S.] more isolated, more expensive and more vulnerable.
President Donald Trump’s aggressive use of tariffs as a cornerstone of his trade policy is turning into a costly gamble, one that the global economy, U.S. consumers and even businesses are already paying for.
While tariffs may sound like a patriotic economic weapon aimed at restoring U.S.’s manufacturing glory, the real-world effects suggest a different story; disrupted trade, retaliatory measures, market uncertainty and rising costs that trickle down to common citizens.
From steel and aluminium to cars, electronics and even films, Trump’s sweeping tariffs have touched nearly every corner of global commerce. His rationale? That tariffs will protect U.S. industries, reduce the trade deficit and pressure trading partners to fall in line with American demands. But the evidence so far suggests this strategy has created more instability than prosperity.
Consider the facts. The U.S. economy shrank in the first quarter of 2025, a stark reversal from the previous year’s strong finish. The International Monetary Fund and the OECD have both downgraded global growth forecasts, citing Trump’s trade barriers as a primary reason. Far from strengthening the American position, the tariffs are accelerating the risk of recession.
Trump’s doubling of tariffs on steel and aluminium to 50%, coupled with a new 25% levy on foreign cars and components, might seem like bold strokes. But these decisions ripple far beyond the factory floor. Supply chains have become deeply integrated across borders, particularly in North America, where parts cross multiple times during production.
Slapping tariffs on these goods doesn’t just raise costs, it threatens entire ecosystems of manufacturing that rely on cross-border efficiency. Consumers, not foreign governments, are footing the bill. From Adidas sneakers to Barbie dolls, companies are already signaling price hikes. And for the average family, this means higher costs on everything from cars to electronics to groceries.
Even Trump’s political allies are growing uneasy. As more domestic firms struggle to navigate the turbulence, Republican leaders are beginning to echo the concerns of Democrats and foreign governments. While Trump frames his trade actions as a defense against foreign “cheaters,” his policies are increasingly viewed as economic self-sabotage.
The global response has been predictably retaliatory. China, Canada and the EU have all implemented their own counter-tariffs, escalating tensions rather than resolving them.
Negotiations with the UK produced a narrow agreement, but even that comes with caveats and temporary exemptions. And while American exporters face tighter quotas and foreign competition, domestic firms must now cope with rising input costs, border delays and shrinking demand overseas.
The notion that tariffs will catalyze long-term investment in U.S. manufacturing remains unproven. What is clear, however, is that the short-term impact has been higher prices, disrupted trade and widespread economic uncertainty.
Trump may view tariffs as tools of leverage, but their indiscriminate use is eroding confidence in the stability of global markets. It’s not just U.S.’s rivals that are losing patience, its allies and its own industries are, too.
Trade policy should be strategic, not reactionary. Tariffs can be part of a broader and well-coordinated plan, but only when used sparingly and with clear and achievable goals. What the world is witnessing under Trump is not strategic protectionism, it’s economic brinkmanship with no clear exit strategy. The administration’s insistence that these measures are “working” rings hollow as markets falter and the risks of recession mount.
In the end, the U.S. citizens will feel the consequences most directly, at the cash register, on the job market and in their savings. Trump’s trade war is not making America great again. It’s making it more isolated, more expensive and more vulnerable.
OpEd Column Syndication 