President Trump has never been accused of underreacting, and his latest dust-up with Canada proves the point. When an ad popped up north of the border quoting Ronald Reagan about “the dangers of protectionism,” Trump slammed the brakes on trade talks faster than you can say “NAFTA.” There was just one small problem: the ad…
Tariffs as a Foreign Policy Tool: Strength or Strategic Overreach?
When President Trump announced plans for a 100% tariff on Chinese imports, the usual suspects on Wall Street gasped like they’d just seen the national debt clock explode. But while the markets hyperventilated, Main Street folks nodded and said, “Well, it’s about time somebody stood up to China.” And that’s the heart of the debate…
IEEPA or IEEP-Ain’t? The Supreme Court to Weigh Trump’s Tariffs
Earlier this year, President Trump invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to slap broad tariffs on imports from multiple countries. His reasoning was tied to what he declared as “emergencies”: drug trafficking, illegal immigration, and foreign nations playing unfair with U.S. trade. The logic was simple: if other countries were exploiting loopholes or…
When Numbers Mislead and Inflation Teases: A Look at the Economy, Tariffs, and Rate Cuts
Well, the economic tea leaves have been tossed on the table again, and they’re not exactly painting a crystal-clear picture. We just got a trifecta of reports: turns out job growth wasn’t nearly as strong as we were told, wholesale prices actually dipped a little (that’s the “good news,” though don’t break out the confetti…
Tariffs, Courts, and the Constitution
Last Friday, President Trump’s trade agenda ran into a major hurdle when a federal appeals court stepped in with a big ruling on his tariffs. Now, before we start celebrating, panicking, or running out to hoard beans and rice, let’s all take a breath. These things are rarely as simple as they first appear. What…
Canada Blinks First
Earlier today, just hours before Canada was set to slap a controversial 3% Digital Services Tax (DST) on American tech giants, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration hit the emergency brakes. And the reason couldn’t be clearer: President Trump, true to form, laid down the law. He froze all trade negotiations and threatened swift retaliatory tariffs,…
Why President Trump’s UK Deal Could Be a Win for America—and What We Should Watch For
President Trump recently announced what he’s calling a “very large” trade deal with the United Kingdom. On the surface, it sounds like a bold, America-first move that’s right in line with the conservative principle of national prosperity. But like any deal cooked up in the global kitchen, it’s worth taking a long, prayerful look at…
Tariff Tweaks and Tech Toys: Is Trump’s Smartphone Exemption a Smart Move?
So, here's the headline that's got economists buzzing and tech execs breathing a cautious sigh of relief: President Trump’s administration has officially exempted smartphones and computers from all “reciprocal” tariffs. That includes the base 10% tariff slapped on all imports and the 125% scorcher that was aimed squarely at China. But before you go thinking…
Tariffs, Trade, and Tough Talk: How Should America Respond to China’s Latest Salvo?
Well, here we go again. Another round in the ongoing heavyweight bout between the United States and China. Yesterday, China raised tariffs on American goods to a whopping 125%—a direct response to the U.S. upping its own tariffs to 145%. It’s like watching two toddlers in a sandbox throwing handfuls of gravel at each other…
The Great Trade Shuffle
Well folks, just when you thought you’d seen it all, President Trump went and did that thing again — you know, the one where he lights a fire and then rushes in with a garden hose, saying, “Relax, I’ve got it under control.” Yesterday, Trump abruptly hit pause on his blanket tariffs for most countries…