President Trump’s sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China are quintessential Trump—bold, disruptive, and unapologetically America First. The man is not afraid to throw down the gauntlet, and his message is clear: secure the border, stop fentanyl, and bring manufacturing back home—or pay the price.

The question is, will this work? Will these tariffs force our neighbors and competitors to play ball, or will they backfire, raising prices for American families and triggering a trade war that does more harm than good? As with most things in economics and politics, the answer is not black and white.

Let’s break this down.

The Case for Tariffs: Strength Through Economic Leverage

1. A Hard Line on Border Security and Drug Trafficking

The Biden administration’s open-border disaster has resulted in millions of illegal crossings and record amounts of fentanyl pouring into the U.S., killing tens of thousands of Americans each year. The Mexican cartels are operating unchecked, profiting off human smuggling and drug trafficking while the Mexican government either turns a blind eye or is complicit.

Trump understands that words and diplomacy won’t cut it. Economic pressure is the only leverage that matters. Mexico’s economy depends heavily on exports to the U.S., so by imposing 25% tariffs, Trump is hitting them where it hurts. His demand? Enforce immigration laws, crack down on cartels, and stop the flow of fentanyl.

China is another major culprit. The vast majority of fentanyl flooding American streets originates in Chinese labs, often shipped through Mexico. Under Biden’s weak leadership, Beijing has felt no consequences for this, nor for their decades of trade abuses, intellectual property theft, and currency manipulation.

Trump’s message? Fix this problem, or the tariffs stay.

2. Reviving American Manufacturing and Economic Independence

One of the biggest long-term failures of both parties over the last several decades has been outsourcing American jobs in the name of “free trade.” NAFTA (signed by Bill Clinton) and later trade deals allowed companies to offshore production to cheaper labor markets in Mexico and China, gutting American industries and hollowing out the Rust Belt.

Trump’s tariffs could reverse this trend by making it more expensive to import foreign goods, thus incentivizing companies to produce here at home. This means:

✅ More American jobs
✅ A stronger industrial base
✅ Less reliance on foreign adversaries

If we learned anything from COVID-19, it’s that America must not depend on China for essential goods, medicine, and manufacturing. We need to restore supply chains here at home, and tariffs can play a key role in making that happen.

3. The Art of the Deal: Trump’s Negotiation Strategy

Anyone who has followed Trump knows he doesn’t make threats idly—he uses pressure tactics to force deals.

Remember in 2019, when Trump threatened Mexico with tariffs over illegal immigration? Within days, Mexico caved and agreed to deploy troops to their southern border and increase enforcement.

There’s good reason to believe that if Canada, Mexico, and China want these tariffs removed, they will comply with Trump’s demands—whether that means stopping illegal migration, curbing fentanyl production, or agreeing to better trade terms.

This isn’t just about punishment—it’s about negotiation leverage. Trump is a businessman first, and his tariffs are a bargaining chip.

The Case Against Tariffs: The Risk of Higher Prices and Retaliation

1. Tariffs Are Taxes—And Americans Will Feel It

While Trump says foreign exporters will bear the cost of these tariffs, history suggests otherwise. When tariffs go up, companies pass those costs onto consumers.

🚗 Cars and trucks will get more expensive (Mexico provides 42% of U.S. auto parts, Canada another 13%).
🏠 Homes will cost more to build (Canada is a major supplier of lumber, steel, and construction materials).
🛒 Grocery bills will go up (especially for produce and processed goods from Mexico).
⛽ Energy costs will rise (even with a lower 10% tariff on Canadian oil, this still increases prices).

With inflation already hammering middle-class Americans, do we really want to pile on additional costs? Families are already struggling to afford food, gas, and housing—tariffs could make things worse before they get better.

2. Retaliation Could Hurt U.S. Exports

Mexico and Canada aren’t going to take this lying down—they’ve already announced retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods.

🚜 American farmers who sell corn, beef, and dairy to Mexico and Canada could take a big hit.
🏭 U.S. manufacturers who export machinery and goods abroad may lose market share.

This could create economic pain for American businesses, particularly in industries that rely on exports.

3. The Danger of Breaking Trade Agreements

Trump fought hard to renegotiate NAFTA into the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)—but these tariffs could violate that deal, making America look unreliable as a trading partner. If the U.S. doesn’t honor its agreements, why should other countries trust us in future negotiations?

Final Verdict: High Risk, High Reward

So, where does that leave us?

As a Christian conservative, I believe that America must be strong, self-sufficient, and unwilling to compromise on sovereignty and security. Trump’s tariffs are a bold, high-risk move, and if they succeed, they could lead to:

✅ A crackdown on illegal immigration
✅ A reduction in fentanyl trafficking
✅ More American manufacturing and jobs
✅ Stronger leverage in future trade negotiations

However, there’s real danger that:

❌ Tariffs will drive up costs for American families
❌ Mexico and Canada will retaliate, hurting American farmers and exporters
❌ This could damage U.S. credibility in global trade deals

The best-case scenario is that Trump forces major concessions from Mexico, Canada, and China—and the tariffs are lifted quickly once they comply.

The worst-case scenario? A full-blown trade war that burdens American consumers and hurts key industries.

This is a high-stakes gamble, and Trump must be strategic—applying maximum pressure, but knowing when to back off. If done right, it could be one of his greatest victories. If mishandled, it could become a costly mistake.

One thing’s for sure: America cannot afford weakness. Let’s pray that wisdom, rather than ego, guides the next steps.