April 7, 2025
On short games vs. long ones...
It’s easy to find thoughtful columns critical of President Trump’s approach to trade — I’ve linked to several here. It’s tougher to find ones supportive of them. Believe me, I’ve tried. That’s not to say a thoughtful argument can’t be made — it’s just that the ones I’m finding echo the administration’s talking points rather than bolster them with evidence. There’s also the fact that the immediate effects of the tariffs have been, with some exceptions, indisputably bad.
The administration’s insistence that the tariffs weren’t a negotiating tactic didn’t help the markets last week but, then again, that line might have been a negotiating tactic. Last night, Trump said he would be “open to talking” with other world leaders. CNN’s homepage currently says the Europeans have announced they’re “ready to negotiate.”
So maybe it will all work out. In the meantime, though, outside of the paragraph above, today’s link has the kindest words I can find from a Trump booster regarding the tariffs. And believe me, I know it’s from four days ago.