The Logical Contradictions of Trump's Case for Tariffs
Taxes on imports cannot possibly deliver all the benefits the president is promising.
Free Trade
A Trade War Will Reduce American Exports Too
It's obvious that tariffs will harm American companies that import goods. But the losses don't end there.
Peter Navarro Says Tariffs Will Be a $6 Trillion Tax Increase, but Also a Tax Cut
If true, then these tariffs would be the biggest peacetime tax increase in American history.
The Hidden Politics of Whiskey Prices
Donald Trump is determined to make everything from Canadian whiskey to Mexican avocados more expensive. Can anyone stop him?
Challenging Trump's Tariffs Under the Major Question Doctrine
Georgetown law Prof. Jennifer Hillman explains why Trump's tariffs are vulnerable to challenge on this basis.
The 'Meritocracy' Lie
Two months after he was inaugurated, Trump has smashed many of the government's silly DEI rules. But he hasn't created a new age of meritocracy.
Trump's New Car Tariffs Are a $100 Billion Tax Increase No One Wants
The president gleefully predicted that the cost to consumers could be as much as 10 times higher.
Why Economic Sanctions Against Iran Are Backfiring
How Sanctions Work argues the consequences of economic warfare don't always serve American interests.
Uncertain Tariffs Make Beauty a Lot Uglier
After contending with COVID-era inflation, the beauty industry and consumers face more supply disruptions and price hikes under Trump’s trade war.
Don't Bail Out Farmers Again
Farmers will bear the brunt of Trump's trade war. That's a good reason to avoid tariffs in the first place, not an excuse for another bailout.
These Ceramic Tiles in Spain and Portugal Tell the Story of Globalization
Azulejos remind us that globalization has been shaping art, politics, and culture for centuries.
Trump's Tariffs Could Be the Final Boss for Affordable Gaming
As Trump’s trade wars with Canada and China escalate, tariffs could push console prices up, threaten U.S. jobs, and disrupt a $66 billion industry.
Pour One Out for Purchasing Power This St. Patrick's Day
Trump’s tariffs will kill the global trade that makes the holiday’s cultural celebration possible.
Trump Makes Canada Free Again
Canada’s retaliation against Trump’s tariffs is wiping American alcohol off store shelves—and fueling an unexpected push to deregulate its own restrictive liquor laws.
Howard Lutnick Doesn't Get To Decide What You Buy
There is no "royal we" in the marketplace.
Trump Pledged To Support Tesla. His Trade Policies Will Do the Opposite.
Tariffs on steel and aluminum imports inflate the cost of electric vehicles.
Tariffs Raise Prices, Spark Conflicts, and Make Everyone Poorer
We rely on Canadian energy and lumber, and Canadians rely on our products. It's the proverbial win-win.
Trump's Threatened 200 Percent Tariffs on European Booze Are His Least Sensible Trade Move Yet
It would make American consumers poorer and hurt American businesses without any promise of benefits.
Congress Just Made It Harder for Congress To Block Trump's Tariffs
The cowardice of Congress will continue fueling the growth of executive power.
Why Some American Businesses Want More Tariffs
A quick lesson about concentrated benefits and diffused costs
It's Trump's Economy Now
Plus: A listener asks the editors to discuss the pros and cons of homeownership.
Trump's Trade War With America's Neighbors Is All Cost and No Benefit
What did we learn from yet another escalation in the North American trade war? Not to do it again.
Weak Dollar
Plus: Columbia's Hamas apologists, Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI, and more...
In Speech to Congress, Trump Promises More Tariff Madness
The tariffs Trump has already imposed on Canada, Mexico, and China will cost an estimated $142 billion this year—and he says more are on the way.
Trump Loves Tariffs. Fentanyl Is Just an Excuse.
If tariffs are a poor method of collecting revenue or strengthening trade, they're even less effective at stopping the flow of illegal drugs.
Tariffs Are In Effect. Expect Everything To Become More Expensive.
The Trump administration’s trade war leaves everyone worse off.
Trump's Dramatic Crossroads Between Protectionism and Dynamism
The GOP faces a choice about how to move forward.
Tariffs on Imports From Canada and Mexico Are Still a Terrible Idea
And an increasingly unpopular one. Will Trump pay attention to the polls, if not the economists?
Is the Jones Act Unconstitutional?
The law is wasteful and protectionist. Now, a new lawsuit argues that it is unconstitutional too.
Rand Paul Wants DOGE To Build a $500 Billion Rescission Package for Congress To Approve
"The only way you get less waste is to give them less money to spend," says the libertarian-adjacent senator from Kentucky.
Trump's 'Reciprocal' Tariffs Could Be Largest Tax Increase Since World War II
The specifics are still vague, but the White House is reportedly claiming that new tariffs will generate $1 trillion annually.
Trump's Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum Are Bad News for American Energy
"This really is one of the dumbest things we could be doing."
Trump's New Tariffs on Steel, Aluminum Won't Help American Manufacturing
And it's not about "fairness." Quite the opposite, actually.
Trade Wars That Never Happen Still Have Costs
One CEO says the uncertainty created by Trump's chaotic trade policies is "reminiscent of the adjustments we had to make during Covid-19."
Trump's Tariffs Require Customs Agents To Check All Mail from China
Eliminating tariff exemptions will increase import delivery times and make direct-to-consumer goods more expensive.
Trump's Tariff Threats Can't Win the Unwinnable War on Drugs
After promising to stop the flow of drugs during his first term, the president blames foreign officials for his failure.
Trump's Tariff Power Grab May not be Over
Yesterday's deals with Canada and Mexico stopped the trade war for now. But Trump may yet return to asserting sweeping authority to impose whatever tariffs he wants.
Trump's Trade War Will Make Energy More Expensive
From gasoline to nuclear power, tariffs will hurt America's energy sector.
Trump's North American Trade War Accomplished Nothing
Canada and Mexico agreed to keep doing things they were already doing, and Trump revealed that he cannot be trusted with unilateral tariff power.
Trump's Dumb Trade War
Plus: A listener asks the editors about the implications of Trump personally suing CBS to obtain transcripts from an interview with Kamala Harris.
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?
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.
