U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest tariff blitz – slapping 25% levies on everything from Canadian goods to Chinese imports – has ignited a global firestorm 🌩️. But experts say the World Trade Organization (WTO) won’t collapse under the pressure, even as tensions reach boiling point.
Trade Wars & Twitter Roasts
From steel tariffs to threats against EU automakers, Trump’s policies face fierce backlash. China, the EU, and even U.S. lawmakers like Sen. Chuck Schumer are calling it a \"history-making blunder.\" Meanwhile, the WTO’s dispute system lies paralyzed – collateral damage in this high-stakes game of economic chicken 🚗💥.
Why Experts Are Facepalming 🤦
Trump’s justifications? Let’s break it down:
🇺🇸 \"Stopping fentanyl\" through China tariffs? That’s like using a flamethrower to light a candle.
🏭 \"Saving U.S. factories\"? Previous steel tariffs left plants gathering dust.
📉 \"Fixing trade deficits\"? They ballooned by $100B+ during his first term.
Your Wallet’s New Enemy? 💸
Peterson Institute research shows these tariffs could cost U.S. families $1,200/year. If retaliation escalates, Bloomberg warns of 1930s-level trade drops – think 55% fewer imports, 60% export crashes. Ouch.
The WTO’s Secret Weapon 🤫
Here’s the plot twist: The U.S. only drives 12.9% of global trade. With middle-income countries fueling a record $30.4T in 2023 trade, the system’s built to withstand turbulence ✈️. As one analyst put it: \"This isn’t Trump’s world economy – it’s everyone’s.\"
