Trump's Theory of Tariffs Makes No Sense
We can tax our way to prosperity, Trump claims, but we'll just…not do that, I guess?
Free Trade
Challenge Trump's Tariffs Under the Nondelegation and Major Questions Doctrines
Recent Supreme Court precedent suggests such challenges might prevail, though success is not guaranteed.
Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China Could Start This Weekend
Trump's second trade war has apparently arrived. There remains much uncertainty, but expect it to be costly.
Trump's Role Model McKinley Tariffed His Way to Imperialism
Reviving the Monroe Doctrine and 19th century Republican adventurism is not a shortcut to peace.
Trump's Pro-Growth, Anti-Trade Positions Are on a Collision Course
The stark disconnect not only runs the risk of choking off much of the global commerce the president claims to welcome but threatens to stick U.S. consumers and businesses with higher costs.
Trump's Pick for Commerce Secretary Wants More Industrial Policy for Chipmakers
Howard Lutnick told senators that CHIPS Act subsidies were "an excellent down payment."
The Best of Reason: Cutting Off Trade Will Make the U.S. Poorer and China More Totalitarian
Politicians in both major parties see the People's Republic as an economic and military threat. But the real threat is an isolated China.
Trump's Tariffs To Tank Tequila
The owner of a famous cocktail bar in Dallas warns that tariffs on Mexican imports will mean higher menu prices and reduced availability of specialty tequila.
Is This New Chinese AI a 'Sputnik Moment'?
DeepSeek has released a cheap, open-source artificial intelligence. Does it challenge American AI supremacy?
Trump's Davos Speech: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
President Donald Trump doubled down on both domestic deregulation and protectionism in his speech to the World Economic Forum.
Rand Paul: Banning TikTok Is 'Group Hysteria'
"Every day I confront a bill that wants to ban another Chinese company," the Kentucky senator tells Reason.
How Trump Could Unilaterally Place Tariffs on Mexico and Canada
They are allied countries with which the U.S. has a trade deal (a deal negotiated by Trump, no less), but presidential emergency powers are nearly limitless.
Trump's Tariffs Will Make Americans, Mexicans, and Canadians Poorer
American tariffs will increase the price of final and intermediate goods, hurting our own consumers and domestic manufacturers.
Can Trump Rename the Gulf of Mexico With an Executive Order?
The most important thing in any name is not what some official institution or a collection of old maps says. Spontaneous order tends to rule the day.
Javier Milei Deregulates Food Imports and Exports
The move "seeks cheaper food for Argentines and more Argentine food for the world."
Trump Must Choose: Tariffs or Lower Prices
Domestic deregulation will decrease the cost of living. Trade barriers will do the opposite.
Trump Promises To Be a 'Peacemaker,' Threatens Panama
Trump is wrong to threaten an ally and prepare to tear up a treaty over a nonexistent threat.
Trump's 'External Revenue Service' Is a Public Relations Effort. It Won't Change How Tariffs Work.
Trump promises to "tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens." That's not how it works.
Cutting Off Trade Will Make the U.S. Poorer and China More Totalitarian
Politicians in both major parties see the People's Republic as an economic and military threat. But the real threat is an isolated China.
Hegseth on Defense
Plus: Who's on deck for the next round of confirmation hearings, Trump wants to create a second IRS, Cuba is no longer doing terrorism, and more...
Trump's Inauguration Won't Change the Fact That People Dislike High Gas Prices
The incoming administration is grappling with uncomfortable political consequences of the tariffs Trump wants to impose.
Douglas Irwin: Why Trump's Tariff Plans Are Dangerous
The trade economist details the most alarming protectionist policies proposed by the incoming Trump administration.
With U.S. Steel Decision, Biden Turned His Back on Opposing Monopolies
Blocking Nippon Steel from acquiring U.S. Steel lays the groundwork for a major consolidation of American steelmaking that will harm consumers and the economy.
Blocking the U.S. Steel Sale Is a Perfectly Disgraceful End to Biden's Political Career
It's a disgraceful decision that serves as a perfect epitaph for Biden's political career.
Make Cars (and Everything Else) Cheap Again
Plus: Superfund is back, Biden signs a lot of laws, MAGA vs. tech Christmas, and more...
Nippon Steel-U.S. Steel Merger Poses No National Security Threat
The Committee on Foreign Investment doesn't recommend blocking the merger, and neither should President Joe Biden.
Trump's Tariffs Will Shrink the Economy and Reduce Investment, CBO Says
Bonus: They're unpopular too, according to a new poll.
Joe Biden Once Understood Why Tariffs Are Bad. Then He Got Trade Policy Amnesia.
Despite campaigning against Donald Trump's tariff hikes, Biden left many of them in place.
Trump's Plan To Fight Illegal Drugs With Punitive Tariffs Makes No Sense
If stopping drugs from entering the country is as straightforward as the president-elect implies, why didn't he do it during his first term?
Trump, the Self-Described 'Tariff Man,' Does Not Understand How Tariffs Work
Since the president-elect refuses to admit that levies on imports are taxes paid by Americans, he sees no downside to raising them.
Bye, Joe: Evaluating the Biden Presidency
From the war in Afghanistan to the war on drugs, Reason writers offer performance reviews of Joe Biden's single term as president.
Trump vs. Cleveland: A Tale of Two Tariff Strategies
Grover Cleveland fought high tariffs as a “communism of pelf.” Trump embraces them as an economic cornerstone.
Peter Navarro Should Not Have Power Over U.S. Trade Policy—or Anything
Navarro is a crank and a sycophant, so naturally he's going to be one of Donald Trump's top advisors.
China Goes Tit for Tat Over U.S. Chip Bans
Semiconductor protectionism is a downward spiral that makes both parties poorer.
Trump's Vow To Block U.S. Steel's Sale Sends Stock Tumbling
Trump doesn't care much about free market principles or the limits of government power. But he should pay attention to this signal from the stock market.
Trump's New Tariffs Could Create Higher Gas Prices
And higher gas prices will make it more expensive to move goods around the country.
Return of the 'Tariff Man'
Plus: Are tariffs inflationary, RIP to a giant of the free market movement, and more...
Betting on Bessent
Plus: Pregnant law student fights a holy war, NYC officials are trying to ruin your holidays, and more...
The Last Chance To Curtail Trump's Tariff Powers?
Sen. Rand Paul's bill to require congressional consent for tariffs is getting new attention in the final weeks before Trump's return to power.
Abolish the Commerce Department
Donald Trump has tabbed Howard Lutnick to be the next secretary of the Department of Commerce. He should also be the last.
Brazilian President Blames Markets for Inequality. He's Wrong.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva blames neoliberalism for the very problems it solves.
After This Election, Is America Still the World's 'Indispensable' Nation?
The key reason America is so prosperous is because it has been the world's beacon of liberty, welcoming to immigrants and open to trade.
How Much Will Trump's Tariffs Cost?
Much of the detail remains to be worked out, but lawmakers and corporations are already preparing.
If Trump Wins, It's Because Neither Party Had the Guts To Stop Him
Donald Trump left the White House in January 2021 as a defeated, disgraced figure. He now seems likely to return to the presidency.
America's Unserious Presidential Policy Agendas
These two candidates can't even be trusted to explain their own ideas.
Countries With Economic Freedom Are Far Better Off
Even the poorest citizens of free countries fare better than the middle classes in economically repressive nations.
Increase in Tariffs Would Trigger Global Economic Decline, Study Finds
A new IMF study finds that a global increase in tariffs could decrease global GDP by nearly 1 percent by 2025 and over 1 percent by 2026.
