By: Isabella Panno
As of early 2025, tariffs imposed by Donald Trump on trading partners have been a popular topic in political media worldwide. Locals may argue that these tariffs are a valuable asset to American industries, while other figures, including world leaders, believe this is the beginning of an economic tragedy. This long-lasting debate has and will continue to stimulate countries to start protest-like activities such as boycotting and a halt to imports from the United States.
American president Donald Trump has supported tariffs and kept them in place as a way to renovate international trade mechanics. The United States’ key trading partners are normally considered to be Mexico, Canada, and China—who Trump particularly seems to target. He argues, “When we take in more than we’re taking out, that’s not good for our country. Tariffs are the way to fix that.” Trump strongly stands by his statement, while leaders like Canada’s Justin Trudeau and China’s Xi Jinping use their perspectives to explain why said tariffs are unnecessary.
Canada’s former prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has expressed deep disappointment in Trump’s ideas on imports. In response to the United States, Canada has set tariffs on American imports commonly sold in grocery stores. Trudeau emphasizes how “[t]rade barriers only hurt working-class families on both sides of the border.” While Trump focuses on the protection of large industries, Trudeau is against these tariffs because of each individual citizen’s financial status.
Xi Jinping, president of China, similarly has shown how the country has faced major issues from the new tariffs introduced by the United States. He has responded with retaliatory tariffs on American coal, crude oil, and machinery, aiming to show the U.S. what they have been doing to other countries. Xi explains, “China is willing to cooperate with all countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.” Further supporting his idea of how fair trade needs to be reestablished worldwide, and how it’s unable to do so with these tariffs.
Photo: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-says-reciprocal-tariffs-coming-thursday-2025-02-13/