Trump’s Trade Tactics Fuel Global Uncertainty

Watan-Under the headline “Trump Creates Chaos,” a French editorial stated that the “fog of war” is not limited to military conflicts. The concept, originally coined by Clausewitz, also applies to tariff wars—especially when they are triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump. These conflicts bring with them the most dreaded element for governments, companies, and individuals: uncertainty.

The piece questions whether the tariffs announced on April 2 are final or merely a negotiating tactic. A week after the announcement, no one can answer this crucial question, which explains the extreme volatility seen in stock markets due to Trump’s decisions.

Unlike the start of his first term, when he was surrounded by experienced officials, Trump now seems to be acting alone, driven by instincts that defy economic logic.

Tariffs, Loyalty, and Economic Fallout

Instead of initiating a positive cycle of industrial reshoring and domestic manufacturing—supposedly to shield against trade barriers—the sharp increase in tariffs could instead trigger hesitation, risking recession and reigniting inflation. These are outcomes American voters did not endorse.

These tensions highlight the fragility of an administration dominated by a president who values one criterion above all: blind loyalty. This explains the influence of Peter Navarro, the architect of the current trade war, who was jailed in 2024 for refusing to testify before a committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack. The same logic also explains the recent dismissals of senior officials from the National Security Council and the National Security Agency in early April.

Unfortunately for the United States, Congress—now controlled by Republicans aligned with the president—has failed to fulfill its vital role as a counterbalance. Few conservative voices have opposed these tariffs, even though they effectively translate into taxes on American consumers, disregarding the Constitution which grants that authority to the House and Senate.

The business and financial sectors, which initially supported Trump in hopes of tax cuts and deregulation, are beginning to wake up from their illusions. The shock at this aggressive protectionism—despite being clearly signaled—is immense. It took three consecutive days of market crashes before any significant warnings emerged from major banks, trade, and industry. But these voices remain too few and too late, now warning of a global trade war undermining the foundations of the U.S. economy.

These political and economic hesitations may only reinforce Trump’s dangerous convictions and fuel his sense of invincibility. The U.S. is inflicting serious harm on itself, and the ripple effects could spread worldwide. Only the U.S. can stop this crisis before it truly spirals out of control. Now more than ever, alarm bells must be sounded—in hopes they may reach Donald Trump.