US President Donald Trump views tariffs as his Swiss Army Knife. He can use the threat of tariffs to prod other countries to change a wide range of domestic and international policies. For example, in a January 23 speech to the World Economic Forum, he said, “Come make your product in America….But if you don’t make your product in America, which is your prerogative, then, very simply, you will have to pay a tariff.”
But Trump’s tariffs will also harm American citizens and companies as he reinforces his authority. Employees and communities in affected sectors will have to contend with lost income, economic instability, job insecurity and job losses. These groups will have little leverage to dismantle tariffs once they are imposed.
Read More Publications
Regrets of the Tech Bros: In a land ruled by the law of the jungle
On his Inauguration Day, Donald Trump sent a message. The founders and CEOs of Apple,Amazon, Google, Meta, Open AI, and Uber, among other giant high-tech companies, sat in the front rows near the Trump family and cabinet nominees. Trump and his staff wanted to use...
The Dangers of AI Nationalism and Beggar-Thy-Neighbour Policies
As they attempt to nurture and govern AI, some nations are acting in ways that – with or without direct intent – discriminate among foreign market actors. For example, some governments are excluding foreign firms from access to incentives for high-speed computing, or...
Talking to a Brick Wall: The US Government’s Response to Public Comments on AI
April 28, 2025 Building trust in artificial intelligence (AI) is an elusive goal, especially if AI models are closed or partially open, making it difficult for users to determine if these models are reliable, fair or trustworthy. For this reason, the Biden...