Doug Irwin, an economist at Dartmouth and author on trade policy, dives into the notorious Smoot-Hawley Tariffs and their disastrous effects during the Great Depression. He illustrates how this historical blunder led to a cautionary tale about tariffs. The conversation connects the past to modern-day issues, including the recent tariff practices under Trump and Biden. Irwin warns of the dangers of protecting local markets at the expense of consumer costs and international relations, all while weaving in amusing anecdotes and economic insights.