Donald Trump is back on stage… And this time, he doesn’t just have a megaphone in his hand, he wants to “adjust” all world trade. Trump made such a statement the other day that; It’s not just trade-focused, a geopolitical tsunami has started. We were talking about the “new world order”… An old-fashioned but effective blow the size of the forehead: Global customs tariffs.
10% for Everyone, More for the Specials..
According to Trump’s statement, now everyone who wants to bring a product into the US first pays a 10% customs tax. But this was just a trailer. The real scene of the movie came with the announcement of special prices in dozens of countries, especially China. China was hit with 34%, Vietnam with 46%, Japan with 24%… Türkiye was hit with a 10% “minimum tariff”.
What does this mean? The “America First” motto is back, and it has been stated that it has been repackaged and presented in the digital age. In other words, Trump is saying, “Hey world, you are selling your products to us, first you will open the budget.” It is a kind of global extortion operation.
So Why Now?
Why is Trump doing this? The answer is clear: He won the 2024 elections, and now he is after a new nationalist move in the economy. He will be able to say to his voters, “Look, I am bringing China to its knees.” The message will be given to those in the US, “I have cleared the market.” And of course, to global companies: “Either you produce here, or you will be punished.”
But of course, this is not that easy… China reacted instantly in countries such as Germany and Australia. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce openly said, “Increased comparison.” The European Union, on the other hand, warns that “the result of this will be a trade war.”
How Will the World Economy Be Affected by This?
We have seen such a picture before, in the 1930s, with the Smoot-Hawley Tariffs. What happened next? The Great Depression! Today, economists say something similar: The plug on free trade is being pulled. A kind of “economic Berlin Wall” is being built between the US and the world.
Supply chains are being damaged. Global growth may slow down. Most importantly, this will have a domino effect: Today, the US, China, then India and others… If everyone starts imposing their own taxes, world trade will slow down.
Conclusion: This is Just the Beginning
Trump’s move is not just a commercial message, but a political one. He says, “I am back, and I am rebuilding the game I know.” This involves a bit of electoral politics, a bit of fear of China, and a bit of “you will pay the price you demand to enter the US market.”
So what will the world do? It is not yet clear. But one thing is certain: It is on the verge of a new trade war. And this time, it is more digital, more complex and with deeper effects.
