Leavitt holds up Trump’s tariffs letter to Japan during a briefing on Monday. (Andrew Harnik/Getty)
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Donald Trump just escalated his mindlessly self-destructive trade war against our (former) economic allies — again.
On Monday, Trump sent rambling letters informing 14 nations, including major trading partners Japan and South Korea, that the US government was slapping them with significantly higher tariffs as of August 1. These tariffs are separate from his previously announced sectoral tariffs on automobiles, steel, and aluminum. (This week, he also announced a 50 percent tariff on copper imports for August 1.) Trump sent more letters sporadically through the week, with an especially bonkers one to Brazil threatening a 50 percent tariff if the government proceeds with its prosecution of Trump’s partner in coups, Jair Bolsonaro.
Then, as this newsletter was being finalized yesterday, Trump announced a new 35 percent tariff on Canada, citing debunked claims about the country turning a blind eye to fentanyl flowing into the United States.
Justin Ling @justinling.ca
Ah, I see we're back to the "our fentanyl comes from Canada* and you must act to stop it**" routine
*It doesn't
**Canada already has
Trump’s new August 1 deadline is completely arbitrary, and his tariff numbers aren’t grounded in any rational economic policy. As everyone seems to understand but the president and his sycophants, these new tariffs will result in increased prices on goods Americans need and can’t magically produce ourselves. Other nations won’t shoulder the costs from tariffs. We will.
The letters all read mostly the same, like shockingly incoherent spam e-mails with the recipient’s name in an obviously different font. They are filled with alarming typos, random Capitalization, and sloppy errors. For instance, Trump’s letter to Željka Cvijanović, the chairwoman of the presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, begins with “Dear Mr. President.”
The letters double down on Trump’s bizarre belief that other nations are taking advantage of the US because we run a trade deficit with them. But as even Republican Rand Paul pointed out, the average American runs a trade deficit with their local grocery store. That’s a good thing. It’s how free trade works.
What’s striking about the letters is how little Trump’s position has changed since the announcement of his supposed “Liberation Day” tariffs on April 2. He’s imposing new tariffs without actually reaching any formal trade deals with our partners. This is despite Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro promising “90 deals in 90 days” more than 90 days ago.
