Trump tariffs policy ‘misguided’ and US economy ‘very wobbly’, ex-adviser says
GuardianMAR 11
US-Canada Trade Tensions Ease as Officials Agree to USMCA Talks
Above: A "Made in Canada" label on stacks of wood at Moulures Algonquin Mouldings in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Image copyright: Graham Hughes/Contributor/Bloomber via Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
Despite short-term challenges, Trump's tariffs are restoring American prosperity. By targeting Canada, Mexico, and China to stop fentanyl, as Commerce Secretary Lutnick emphasizes, they protect lives and jobs. His future plans to reform labor laws, end DEI, and reduce regulations will also boost workforce flexibility, spur job creation, and support economic growth for American workers.
Democratic narrative
Trump's tariffs have already devastated the US economy, and this will worsen if they remain unchanged. Even his former advisers, like Stephen Moore, have called him out, predicting a volatile economy with sinking consumer confidence and poor jobs reports. Tariffs raise prices and burden consumers, the vast majority of whom have expressed fears over an incoming recession and eroding prosperity unless the president makes a U-turn.