Tariffs: Trump's Trade War Tactic

The tariff turmoil is Trump's play to push allies into toughening their security measures. Trump's use of tariffs against nations like Canada, Mexico, and China was intentionally provocative. He is forcing these countries to step up their defense commitments and reassess trade deals. This is a negotiation strategy that didn't start with these tariffs. The president's technique showed he believes in using tariffs as powerful bargaining chips, following a pattern that worked with Mexico. He targeted Canada for not living up to their share of the defense bill—Canada spent a paltry 1. 37% of their GDP on defense last year! Canada's prime minister, Trudeau, merely pledged to hit the 2% threshold by 2032; a promise Trump found unconvincing. Tariffs create a sense of urgency for defenses. Countries like Germany have slowly boosted their defense spending to near the 2% mark, but it was too slow and too insignificant under threat. Canada's response wasn't just about military spending; it was also tied to an emotional debate surrounding national sovereignty. Trump's tariff threat adds weight to rethink how America supports allies. Trump campaigns tradition: tariffs are his grand plan to keep American jobs safe. The most important part is he's not against the other countries; he is dealing with trade in a way that benefits the US. Trump's actions knocked up the issue of trade agreements. The economic security issue is always a heavy threat to most countries. It is a game of pressure and play, Trump knows how to bully allies into stepping up. A tactic to make allies work more for their military. If not they are on a timeline to have his side of agreements met. After all, it's not about harming allies; it's about making them think about their commitments seriously and do their part towards the defense of American interests. Trump's tariff strategy pushes allies to reassess. He is making sure he can provide to America in any way necessary. This also is accompanied with a debate that Trump's methods of using tariffs as a weapon can turn the trade wheel in America's favor with alliances demanding more significance of their countries.