The Escalation of U.S. Trade Wars Under President Trump
1. The Origins of Trump’s Trade Wars
The U.S. trade wars initiated by President Donald Trump during his first term set the stage for a series of escalating tariffs and retaliatory measures that would impact global economies. Trump’s focus was primarily on China, implementing tariffs on a wide range of Chinese goods. This led to a tit-for-tat exchange, with China responding by imposing tariffs on U.S. products such as agricultural goods and machinery. Trump also targeted other countries with tariffs on solar panels, washing machines, steel, and aluminum, leveraging these measures to renegotiate trade agreements like the USMCA with Canada and Mexico.
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