I'm getting really concerned about the tariffs Trump has announced. I'm pretty unflappable in general but these decisions are aimed at targeting the main tentpole of U.S. social stability which is the ability of people to spend and consume regardless of prevailing political conditions. If that tentpole gets pulled there's not much else holding up what is otherwise a very atomized and polarized society.

Trump argues that he is going to bring back manufacturing jobs to the U.S. with "one weird trick" of imposing tariffs on the rest of the planet. It seems just as likely to me that he will destroy existing U.S. manufacturing businesses while failing to reshore any significant number of new ones. 

There is no need for any of this, although I'm sure a small handful of well-placed people are set to gain. Genuinely concerning times and we can only hope that the administration backs down, though it seems difficult to unring this bell.

Writer, podcaster, and commentator on foreign affairs and politics. Runs /dropglobalnews

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