In 2025, Donald Trump has doubled down when it comes to tariffs. This includes things like steel, aluminum and other goods from countries like Mexico, Canada, and China. He is doing this in an effort to fix inflation. It is yet to be seen whether or not this will help Americans or cause a potential trade war.
Inflation
President Trump has announced several new tariffs on many different points of industry. This is due to his efforts to try and fix inflation in the U.S. According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), inflation is currently at 3%, which is higher than the Federally-set ideal number of 2%. Trump assures that with these tariff plans, Americans will start to feel the effects soon.
“We are going to take inflation, and we are going to deflate it. We are going to deflate inflation. We are going to defeat inflation. We’re going to knock the h--- out of inflation” the President said at a rally in California.
It is unclear currently whether Trump’s tariffs are going to work to fix the inflation problem. With the cost of living skyrocketing, some Americans are not buying what he is selling, including angry Dayton resident Gabriel Cortez.
“I don’t believe a word that walking cheeto puff says. I went to the store the other day, [and] tell me why I got 5 things and they were like $100? It wasn’t even on brand things either. There is no reason why I’m paying Whole Foods money on Great Value food. I thought this was a day-one fix, Donald," Cortez said.
With the industries that are being taxed, Trump promises that things could start to get cheaper soon. The tariffs that are now a thing are also supposed to give Americans a "fighting chance," as Trump claims other nations have been taking advantage of the U.S. and its resources.
Tariffs
Another large reason for the increase on tariffs is due to Trump claiming that Americans have had the raw end of the deal on several of these topics.
One of these tariffs that Trump has implemented is a tariff on certain building supplies. This is actually a reinstated tariff from 2018, during his first presidency. This tariff would restore back to 25% on steel and raise the tariff of aluminum by 25%. Trump is invoking the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which ensures that equal and fair trading is taking place.
“Foreign nations have been flooding the United States market with cheap steel and aluminum, often subsidized by their governments,” Trump said in a White House statement.
Trump also claims in the same statement that this increase will also create new jobs and strengthen the economy.
Another tariff that Trump is imposing is tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China. These tariffs come as a response to “national threats." Trump claims that these tariffs were put in place to protect the American people from illegal immigrants and fentanyl that is coming over the borders; he also says that this is the best way for America to protect ourselves right now.
These countries have responded to these tariffs, with Mexico and Canada retaliating by putting tariffs on their own goods. Canada’s tariffs are up to 25% on all Canadian goods coming to the U.S. and 10% on Canadian oil. Mexico is enforcing a 25% tariff on Mexican goods. China implemented a 15% border tax on imports of US coal and liquefied natural gas products, a 10% tariff on American crude oil and imposed export controls on 25 rare metals, according to the BBC.
However, Trump agreed to a 30-day pause on the tariffs with Mexico and Canada after a few days that risked crushing economic growth and soaring prices, according to the Associated Press.
“I am very pleased with this initial outcome, and the Tariffs announced on Saturday will be paused for a 30 day period to see whether or not a final Economic deal with Canada can be structured,” Trump posted on social media.
Despite the pause, some Americans are concerned that this could break out into an all out trade war. One Centerville citizen, Christian Price, is afraid for what this will mean for working-class Americans.
“He already let us know that he wasn't going to back down. That is scary because what will it mean for us financially? We are at the mercy of Trump’s hard-headedness," Price said.
It is not yet clear how Trump’s tariffs will affect Americans. Many hope that he will keep citizens in mind when he puts these in place.
“I just don’t want to be put at risk because our President is stubborn,” Price said.
