economy

Trump’s hypocritical new tariffs are a chance for the world to fight back

The president’s pretext of stopping forced labour is only a ruse – he is trying to grab a share of global trade for the US

Trump’s hypocritical new tariffs are a chance for the world to fight back

TL;DR

  • New US tariffs, ostensibly to combat forced labor, are criticized as hypocritical and a ruse to gain economic advantage.
  • The article points to the US's own use of forced labor through prison labor, citing the 13th amendment loophole.
  • The EU's own laws against forced labor importation are highlighted, alongside claims of hypocrisy from the US Commerce Secretary.
  • The article suggests the EU should impose reciprocal tariffs on goods from US states that extensively use prison labor.
  • Trump's tariff wars are argued to have harmed the US economy, leading to job losses and increased trade deficits.
  • The author asserts that Trump's actions subvert international law and that global capitulation to his bullying is detrimental.