Trump's tariffs could cause huge global crisis, warns economist Michael Hudson
Feb 4, 2025
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In this engaging conversation, Michael Hudson, an award-winning economist known for his critique of neoliberal economics, warns that Trump's tariffs could lead to a destabilized global economy. He discusses potential financial crises stemming from currency depreciation and the challenges countries face in paying foreign debts. Hudson critiques U.S. protectionist policies and austerity measures, emphasizing the need for unity among nations affected by these economic shifts. The conversation also touches on the broader implications for trade, inflation, and U.S. imperialism.
Trump's tariffs threaten the stability of the global economy by reducing access to dollars needed for countries to meet foreign debt obligations.
The U.S. protectionist policies and financial warfare are prompting nations to reconsider their reliance on the dollar, potentially causing a shift in global trade dynamics.
Deep dives
Tariffs and Trade Deficits
Imposing tariffs on various countries is positioned as a strategy to reduce the U.S. trade deficit, but this approach presents inherent contradictions in the economic policy. While tariffs aim to protect American industry and create wealth, they jeopardize the U.S. dollar's status as the global reserve currency, which is crucial for international trade reliance. A reduction in trade deficits requires other nations to have access to dollars, yet tariffs limit their ability to secure these dollars for imports, further complicating global financial dynamics. This policy contradiction could trigger significant repercussions, potentially destabilizing the global economy if countries cannot acquire the dollars needed for their debts.
The Consequences of Financial Warfare
The U.S. employs financial warfare as a primary strategy in global diplomacy, leveraging economic power rather than military force for oversight. This approach can lead to severe inflation and economic hardship for countries facing high tariffs, which could weaken their currencies against the dollar. For instance, countries like Canada and Mexico might struggle to pay off dollar-denominated debts if their currencies fall due to these tariffs. The long-term effects of such destabilization could result in a widespread global debt crisis if countries are unable to obtain the dollars necessary for their international obligations.
The Reality of U.S. Production and Industry
Trump's ambition to re-industrialize the United States faces challenges due to the nation's significant de-industrialization and reliance on global supply chains. An overvalued dollar, coupled with high tariffs, only exacerbates this issue, making American products increasingly uncompetitive on the world stage. The push for local production must contend with rising costs associated with domestic manufacturing, ultimately leading to corporate layoffs and hindered economic growth. This financial strain threatens to make inflation a persistent issue rather than achieving the intended goal of revitalizing American industry.
Geopolitical Implications of Economic Policies
Trump's economic strategies may serve as a catalyst for shifts in global trade dynamics as countries resist U.S. pressures and explore alternative alliances. His administration's aggressive tariff policies could prompt nations to reassess their dependency on the U.S. dollar, potentially leading to a movement toward de-dollarization among BRICS nations and others. Such actions could destroy existing trade patterns and lead to a collective stance among global south countries against unfair economic practices. Ultimately, this presents a wake-up call for nations to reevaluate their positions in response to U.S. economic aggression and formulate strategies that prioritize their own domestic interests.
Donald Trump’s tariffs could destabilize the global economy, warns economist Michael Hudson. US protectionist policies could cause financial crises, as many currencies depreciate and countries can't earn the dollars needed to pay their foreign debts. Ben Norton hosts the interview.
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFyWatftnIM
Transcript: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2025/02/04/trump-tariffs-global-crisis-economist-michael-hudson/
Here you can read Michael Hudson's article on how Trump’s tariffs threaten the global economy: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2025/01/25/michael-hudson-trump-tariffs-global-economy/
Topics
0:00 Trump's tariff threats
3:10 Highlights of Michael Hudson
5:47 How to pay foreign debt
10:55 Austerity
14:48 Protectionism
17:19 US threats
21:11 Mexico
22:47 Defaulting on debt
25:46 Economic colonialism
28:18 Colombia
29:50 Greenland
30:23 Economic war
31:02 China's win-win approach
32:24 Trump's contradictions
35:20 US dollar & re-industrialization
37:06 Finance capitalism
41:00 Dollar exchange rate & inflation
44:34 Trump proposal at WEF/Davos
45:20 Investing in USA
47:18 US imperialism
49:17 Outro
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