Charlotte Howard, executive editor and New York bureau chief at The Economist, recently unpacked a fresh inflation report and sounded a warning on the United States' tariff strategy. She says that among America's allies, these duties are increasingly viewed as aggressive leverage or even signs of erratic policymaking.
At the heart of the debate is a proposed 30 percent tariff on imports from the European Union—America's largest trading partner—slated to take effect by August 1. If the EU retaliates with its own measures, Howard cautions it could deal a serious blow to the global economy.
Inflation has been relatively tame for now, thanks to companies' nimble supply chain adjustments and stockpiling in advance. But those buffers are temporary. As investment cools and corporate uncertainty mounts, the risk of deeper economic fallout rises.
Howard's warning underscores a broader global trade dilemma: are large-scale tariffs effective tools for strategic advantage, or risky gambles that could shake investor confidence worldwide? With the August deadline looming, businesses, policymakers, and young global citizens are bracing for the next move.
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Economist's executive editor: U.S. tariff policy seen as aggressive
cgtn.com
