Trump is determined to pursue his trade war - and he may be difficult to stop
President Donald Trump is actively seeking legal justifications to impose broad tariffs on foreign goods, despite previous judicial setbacks. The article examines his use of trade statutes to bypass traditional constraints and his potential to escalate international trade conflicts.
Why it matters
The analysis highlights the potential for executive power to reshape global trade relations and the legal challenges surrounding protectionist economic policies.
President Donald Trump greets supporters after speaking at General Motors’ Milford Proving Grounds on July 27, 2026 in Milford, Michigan. President Donald Trump greets supporters after speaking at General Motors’ Milford Proving Grounds on July 27, 2026 in Milford, Michigan. Trump tariffs Trump is determined to pursue his trade war – and he may be difficult to stop Eduardo Porter The president’s minions have trawled the statutes to restore roadblocks to trade. The invocation of Smoot-Hawley looks especially dangerous
Donald Trump may have found the killer weapon to punish countries at will: by imposing tariffs on their exports to the United States.
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