Here’s the problem with the tariffs.

Basically Trump wants to use tariffs to force everyone to negotiate terms that would be favorable for the US. That’s the short summary of a very complicated plan.

However with negotiations of any kind, especially for results that would favor you, everyone else has to trust you in that favorable position. Trust is the most important aspect of any deals you can make.

Trump has torn up trade agreements that he himself signed, threatened to annex our closest allies, promoted an aggressor of war, etc. The list goes on and on. I don’t think there’s anyone left who still trusts the USA anymore. So any leverage he hopes to gain with this mess won’t mean anything in a room full of people who don’t trust you to not abuse the power over them you’re asking for.

It doesn’t matter how much of our remaining power we use to try forcing people into anything they don’t want. They’ll just take their business elsewhere after finding a way to stop relying on us.

Any ends gained through contemptible means aren’t worth anything and I wonder if anyone in the Trump administration understands that.

I hope I’m wrong and people will come to trust not Trump, but our country compromised of much more than just him. Trust America, but I won’t wonder why if no one does and this is the end of our power on the world stage.

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SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

He has quite clearly stated that the tariffs themselves are non-negotiable, which leaves him in a weak position to achieve any leverage or favourable concessions.

For all the talk of retaliatory tariffs, I think the primary strategy in the short-term will be to remove the USA from international trade as far as practicable.

Reject · 26-30, M

@SunshineGirl Well yeah, the tariffs have to be non-negotiable initially to establish the point he’s trying to make in the first step of his plan. That doesn’t mean he won’t try to talk where he can and go back on things he’s said as he’s already done many times before. Trump talks a lot. Don’t take it all too seriously.

I imagine he’ll try to make the USA more independent with manufacturing while trying to keep the US as the reserve currency for everyone. Basically he wants to have his cake and eat it too. I predict the long term deals he’s looking for will involve keeping the US on top, but again, I don’t think anyone wants that from the US anymore after he’s broken everyone’s trust so I just don’t see it working.

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

@Reject International investors for the past half year have based their strategies around not taking Trump too "seriously" and betting that he would somehow reduce tax and regulation while leaving tariffs untouched. This is the outcome. The chaos and uncertainty is intolerable for investment and trade. If America wishes to isolate itself, we must now plan for that eventuality to minimise disruption to the rest of the world.

Reject · 26-30, M

@SunshineGirl You’re right. He’s very unpredictable. That’s why many countries are already taking steps to distance themselves from the US. America doesn’t wish to isolate itself, I don’t even think Trump wants that. It’s just all but certain now due to his foolish plans where he thinks throwing his country’s power around against everyone else will somehow work out. It won’t. At least I really don’t think so.