The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: Trump’s New Global Tariffs and the Court Fights to Come, with Peter Harrell and Jennifer Hillman
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Apr 8, 2025 
Peter Harrell, a Lawfare Contributing Editor and former Senior Director for International Economics on the National Security Council, teams up with Jennifer Hillman, a Georgetown Law professor and ex-WTO appellate body member. They dive into Trump's recently imposed global tariffs, discussing their unprecedented nature and the legal battles ahead. The conversation highlights the tariffs' potential to distort trade and the implications of using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, raising questions about judicial scrutiny and authority.
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Paradigm Shift in Tariffs
- Trump's tariffs represent a dramatic policy shift, unseen in over a century.
- These tariffs change the basis of tariff imposition and significantly increase U.S. tariff levels.
Impact on Least Developed Countries
- Trump's tariffs disproportionately affect least developed countries like Lesotho.
- Their high tariffs stem from a formula prioritizing trade deficits, endangering these fragile economies.
Trade Deficit Complexity
- Trade deficits are not solely driven by trade policies but also by fiscal policies and capital accounts.
- Addressing trade deficits requires more than just tariffs.