tariffs

  Over the past 80 years, policymakers have recognized the benefits of free-trade principles. They gradually agreed to restrain their discretionary power and abstain from regulating trade to raise cash (tariffs) or create privileged positions for selected producers (non-tariff barriers). International agencies were established to ensure that an increasing number of countries reduced their trade […]

  As South Africa adapts to the new reality of a 30 percent tariff imposed on a range of goods by the administration of United States President Donald Trump, questions have emerged about whether Pretoria has taken all necessary steps to safeguard its economy against this challenge. The coalition government, led by the African National […]

  Global trade relations have recently shifted, as protectionism threatens to dominate an increasingly interconnected world. United States President Donald Trump’s April announcement of import trade tariffs has rattled economies worldwide, casting a long shadow over trade and raising concerns about the future of cooperation. Regional trade blocs are adjusting their strategies amid this shifting […]

  Uncertainty over tariffs and federal spending have characterized the first few months of the second Donald Trump presidency. Since taking office, the Trump administration has instituted various tariffs targeting Canada, Mexico, China, the European Union and countries worldwide. This saga has led to speculation about the prospect of an “External Revenue Service,” “to collect tariffs, duties […]

  In early 2025, inflation was about 2.8 percent both in the European Union and in the United States, barely making headlines. Until mid-March, most commentators were predicting that in the following months the figure would drop further to about 2.5 percent. Everything seemed to be under control. Very few noted that the rates were […]