Wealthion - Be Financially Resilient

E.J. Antoni: We’ve Been in a Trade War, Now the U.S. Is Fighting Back

May 7, 2025
E.J. Antoni, an economist and Senior Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, joins the discussion to critically analyze the U.S. trade strategy. He argues that the U.S. is not instigating a trade war but responding decisively. A flawed tariff rollout could confuse allies and shake market confidence. Antoni contends that while tariffs may have short-term pain, they aim to revive American manufacturing. He emphasizes the need for regulatory reforms over tariffs for sustainable economic growth and warns of potential inflation shocks for consumers.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

U.S. Fighting Back in Trade War

  • The U.S. has been in a trade war but hasn't actively fought back until recently.
  • Implementing tariffs poorly created confusion and uncertainty among trade partners and markets.
INSIGHT

Flawed Tariff Rollout Formula

  • The administration's tariff rollout used a flawed formula unrelated to actual trade barriers.
  • Complex trade factors like quotas and currency manipulation make tariff calculations difficult.
INSIGHT

Tariff Confusion Hurts U.S. Leverage

  • The confusing tariff structure hurt U.S. credibility and negotiation leverage.
  • Trading partners are unclear on what bargaining chips to offer, stalling progress.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app