While much of the American electorate debates Donald Trump’s culpability on 91 criminal charges, economists are enduring post-traumatic flashbacks stemming from the trade war Trump perpetuated when he was president — because Trump wants to go even further if he wins a second term.

While much of the American electorate debates Donald Trump’s culpability on 91 criminal charges, economists are enduring post-traumatic flashbacks stemming from the trade war Trump perpetuated when he was president — because Trump wants to go even further if he wins a second term.

even further if he wins a second term. With the 2024 primary elections about to get underway, Trump’s policy proposals for a second term are starting to draw serious scrutiny. One of them is a new 10% tariff on nearly all imports to the United States— which total roughly $4 trillion per year — as part of the most protectionist agenda since the 1930s. Since Trump is the leading Republican contender, and also favored in some polls to beat President Joe Biden in the general election, Trump Trade War 2.0 is a real possibility for 2025.

Economists are highlighting the possible damage, just as they did in 2016, when Trump proposed import tariffs as high as 45%. “Trump’s signature policies would lead to price spikes,” Michael Strain of the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute argues. “They would lead to substantial economic disruption. They would hurt workers and households.”