Trump's plan towards economic bust

By Melvin Najarian May 21, 2025

Ryan Park Art

On April 2, President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing sweeping 10 percent tariffs on all imported goods, escalating his “America First Trade Policy.” The order also targeted 57 nations with additional tariffs that ranged from 11 to 50% in an attempt to curb “decades of unfair trade practices,” per the Trump Administration. The general import tariffs took effect on April 5, with the higher country-specific tariffs rates followed on April 9.  

Although the Trump administration argued that these tariffs will help the American industry, history has made it clear that protectionist policies are more likely to hurt the economy rather than help it. In 1930, President Herbert Hoover signed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff, which raised the U.S. tariffs to record high amounts, despite 1,000 economists warning the President and persuading him to veto the bill. The act severely hurt Hoover’s reputation and worsened the economic conditions of the Great Depression, as the international retaliations that followed led to a collapse in American trade relations with the rest of the world.    

“As for past American tariffs, we can refer to the Tariff Act of 1890, which also aimed to protect domestic industry, but instead caused the Panic of 1893, during which banks failed and the economy crashed. If this precedent is any good indicator of the future, the same consequences that haunted the McKinley tariff will mar the Trump administration’s legacy as well,” Sophomore Winston Robey said. 

Trump claimed that the tariffs would encourage consumers to purchase more American-made products, attract large-scale investments and increase tax revenue. Beyond the economic agenda, according to the White House, the tariffs were also part of a broader strategy to hold China, Mexico and Canada accountable for reducing illegal immigration and stopping the entrance of fentanyl and other drugs into the nation. Furthermore, one of Trump’s key goals with his tariff policy was to reduce the US trade deficit, which stood at $918.4 billion in 2014, about 3.1% gross domestic product according to the Council on Foreign Relations. 

Ryan Park Art

While the intended goals of the tariffs are indeed admirable, the cost of these tariffs are mostly placed upon American shoulders, not that of foreign countries. Despite the promise made by Trump to boost the economy, the reality is that American consumers and agriculture will have to carry the burden of these tariffs. US agriculture exporters have faced a sharp decline in demand, especially those who rely heavily on the Chinese market, as order cancellations and layoffs have become more common since the tariffs. The US Department of Agriculture reported that 12,000 tons of pork cancellations have been made; the largest since 2020. 

Moreover, the tariffs bring direct taxes on the imported goods. The Penn Wharton Budget Model notes that the cost of the tariffs is often shared between the consumers and the businesses. Over a period of time, the burden of the tariffs will shift toward consumers. As prices of goods continue to increase as a result of these tariffs, it is the average American family that will have to bear the brunt of the tariffs.  

“Proponents of Trump’s tariffs completely ignore the realities of a globalized supply chain. For example, cars manufactured in America will have to import a major portion of raw materials from overseas. In the unlikely event that the manufacturing process is completely domestic, the process of purchasing raw materials adds an additional cost,” Junior Ryan Son said.  

Ultimately, Trump’s tariff plan has and will continue to adversely affect the US economy. Instead of strengthening the international position of the United States, these tariffs have invited retaliation and weakened American industry in the global market. As of April 4, China, Canada and the European Union have responded with retaliatory tariffs that targeted approximately $330 billion in US exports, further demonstrating the tariffs’ negative impact. 

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About the Contributors

Melvin Najarian

staff writer

Melvin Najarian likes playing tennis, listening to music, and hanging out with friends. His favorite band is Keane.

Ryan Park

Artist

Ryan Park is an Artist for Advanced Journalism in Leland High School. He wants to be able to improve his drawing skills during his time in Journalism. He likes watching anime, hanging out with his friends, and going to the gym.