The Economist didn’t hold back—calling Trump’s latest tariff blitz not just misguided, but the worst economic blunder of the modern era.
In a fiery editorial titled “President Trump’s Mindless Tariffs Will Cause Economic Havoc,” the globally respected magazine accused Donald Trump of unleashing a wave of protectionism that could upend the global economy and damage America’s own economic future.
Labeling the move as
“profound, harmful and unnecessary,” the article warns that Trump’s plan to impose sweeping tariffs on imports reflects a distorted understanding of trade, one that risks higher consumer prices, retaliatory strikes from other nations, and a breakdown in global economic order.
China’s swift response—a 34% counter-tariff—is already stoking fears of a full-scale trade war.
“This is the biggest rupture in U.S. trade policy in over a century,” The Economist warns, suggesting the long-term impact could echo some of history’s worst economic missteps.
Yet amid the alarm, the editorial holds out hope—urging global leaders to reject the pull of protectionism and work collectively to preserve free markets and economic cooperation.
With Wall Street shaken and world markets on edge, Trump’s trade gamble may come at a much higher cost than America can afford.