Check your receipts, the rising prices of groceries and clothes are no accident. Behind every price increase are President Donald Trump’s new tariffs, policies that are rewriting the rules of international trade and impacting families across the nation.

Since before the presidential election, Trump has teased the idea of reciprocal tariffs that place the same tax rate on foreign countries as they do on the US. Now in office, Trump is turning his idea into action. After stepping into office in January, Trump quickly revealed tariff plans that would apply to some of the United States’ biggest trade partners — Canada, Mexico and China. Soon after, on April 2, dubbed by Trump as Liberation Day, sweeping tariffs were released on 185 countries.

The new tariffs were a part of a broader strategy to reduce the United States’ trade deficit with other countries, which occurs when the United States imports more from a particular country than it exports. 

To Trump, trade deficits aren’t just numbers but signs of unfair treatment. He argues that other countries manipulate their currencies, subsidize industries and impose steep tariffs on U.S. goods to disadvantage American businesses. As a result, Trump believes that trade deficits lead to the loss of American jobs and the decline in domestic manufacturing, which contributes to an unequal playing field amongst businesses. These imbalances can lead to monopolization practices from foreign companies and damage the U.S. economy. For Trump, trade deficits and the dependence on foreign goods can be fixed through bold economic action.

However, the global backlash, economic volatility and rising consumer prices that followed have raised critical questions: do the tariffs truly help the U.S. economy? And is sacrificing years of global trade networks to protect the U.S. economy the right decision? Finally, what do Trump’s actions mean for students, the next generation of leaders?

Trump’s justification

Although Trump frames trade deficits as harmful, they are not necessarily bad. They can be a sign of a healthy economy. Trade deficits imply that citizens are wealthy enough to consume more than they produce. In other cases, trade deficits help the U.S. economy 一 specifically in the case of Canada. A significant part of the U.S.-Canada deficit comes from importing large amounts of crude oil, which ultimately helps to keep U.S. gas prices low, providing access to affordable energy resources.

“A trade deficit [can be] deceiving,” social studies teacher Mel Trotier said. “If you think of it like a business, you want to sell more than you buy, but you can’t necessarily think of a global economy or a nation’s economy in that kind of simplistic term. What we export is not necessarily a pair of shoes, but the idea behind the shoes or the technology that goes into a computer.”

Additionally, Trump has used misleading and often incorrect statements about tariffs and dynamics with other countries. Trump has overstated the size of trade deficits, claiming that the US trade deficit with Canada was 200 billion dollars when the actual figure was only 35.7 billion dollars. Likewise, Trump expressed that the U.S. had a trillion-dollar trade deficit with China when it was only 263.3 billion dollars.

Unfortunately, the exaggeration of numbers is a common political tool in today’s age that politicians use to influence voters. The lies of our politicians, from senators to representatives to the president, are told out of ambition for certain political agendas or election votes and have dangerous impacts on citizens.

False claims can lead to widespread confusion on critical issues — most notably, during the COVID pandemic, when misleading statements about vaccines and treatments jeopardized national security and safety. Beyond public health, misinformation can stir up anger and hate towards specific communities, driving people to act based on inaccurate beliefs. This not only undermines the integrity of our democracy but also creates a biased, polarized and less informed population.

“Disinformation muddies the waters and makes it hard for people to make or have a clear opinion. There are a lot of politicians that are guilty of it, and they’re looking to drum up support and almost a sense of urgency in [their] voting base,” Trotier said.

April 2-5: Tariffs announced and implemented

While the intent behind Liberation Day was to free America, the aftermath came at the expense of both the U.S. and countries across the world.

After Liberation Day, several drastic tariffs were implemented, including a baseline 10% tariff on all imports, effective on April 5, as well as higher tariffs on 90 nations, official on April 9. No nation, ally, or adversary was exempt from these tariffs, with a 20% tariff on the European Union (EU) and even greater rates on Asian countries. Some of the highest tariffs were placed on Cambodia with a 49% tax rate and Vietnam with a 46% tax rate. 

“It was not a very thought-out decision, and members in Congress probably agreed, but they didn’t want to stand up to the president or the executive department. Overall, the country needs to become more cooperative and think through decisions about the power of the United States,” president of the youth and government club and junior Lily Overmann said.

The very act of calling such a day “Liberation Day” is problematic and manipulative. Around the world, liberation days carry deep historical significance. For instance, Italy, France, the Netherlands and Germany have their own liberation day observances tied to the end of Nazi rule. Likewise, liberation days across the world often mark the end of oppressive occupations, the fall of fascist regimes and the emancipation of enslaved people. These liberation days aren’t political labels — they represent the real sacrifices, efforts and progress of those who fought for justice. By using such an important term as a political strategy, Trump is undermining and disrespecting the gravity of those events.

The actions supposedly worthy of celebration on Liberation Day have been far from liberating. After his announcement, the repercussions of the tariffs were immediate, with the U.S. stock market plummeting. As a result, students and families are already facing the economic consequences as the price of goods rises. Supermarkets like Walmart plan to raise prices, while the Chinese-based online retailers Temu and Shein have raised prices in the past month. 

In response to the actions of companies globally, Trump posted on TruthSocial, “Between Walmart and China they should, as is said, ‘EAT THE TARIFFS,’ and not charge valued customers ANYTHING. I’ll be watching, and so will your customers.” Trump’s remark ignores the economic reality that when businesses face higher costs, as a result of tariffs, those costs inevitably reach consumers. Trump’s refusal to acknowledge this truth or collaborate with businesses to minimize costs shows a concerning disregard for the financial burdens placed on ordinary Americans.

April 8 – Current: Shifting tariffs

On April 8, tariffs on individual countries were officially implemented. However, 13 hours after the tariffs went into effect, Trump halted the tariffs, placing a 90-day hold on implementation. The pause was extended to all countries except China. Thereafter, the U.S. stock market soared once again, with the S&P 500 rising 9.5% — the highest single-day rise since October 2008. 

But this sudden reversal sent shockwaves through global markets and diplomatic networks. Trump’s unpredictable on-and-off tariffs have created an atmosphere of uncertainty, leaving businesses unable to plan and allies reluctant to trust the United States. As the elected president, Trump has the responsibility to the American people to act with transparency and reliability. Tariffs are not meant to be created on impulse — they affect entire economies and countless lives. 

To make matters worse, Trump’s pause is not permanent. On May 16, Trump announced that he would soon set new tariff rates for 150 countries if they do not strike new trade agreements with the U.S., focused on renegotiating tariff terms before the end of the 90-day pause. While Trump officials claim that around 100 countries are willing to negotiate deals, the reality is that trade agreements are highly complex and delicate. Striking dozens of new deals within three months is nearly impossible.

Trump’s unrealistic demands have already damaged relationships with many of the U.S.’s strongest allies, igniting global tensions. Before the tariffs were paused, nations, like those in the EU, had already approved and planned to impose similar tariffs on the US. 

In all the chaos, the greatest victim by far is the United States’ relationship with China. Trump’s tariffs have created a trade war, which occurs when two countries try to damage each other’s trade through tariffs or quota restrictions. On Liberation Day, Trump initially placed a 34% tariff on China and the Chinese government quickly responded with a reciprocal 34% tariff on all US goods. Things quickly escalated on April 9, as Trump raised tariffs to 104%, prompting China to immediately increase their tariffs to 84%. Trump countered with a 145% tariff on the same day. Three days later, China announced a 125% tariff on US goods. 

“[The tariffs are] making cooperation more difficult and worsening our relationships with adversaries like China. Having a trade war with China isn’t going to help anyone. The truth is that we do get a lot from them, so it’s not a good idea. Also, we’re increasing tensions with the European Union, which has been our ally, [will] lead to less cooperation,” Overmann said.

As of May 12, the United States and China have finally agreed to a 90-day pause on most retaliatory tariffs. But, the pause is not permanent and the future holds considerable uncertainty for the world, businesses, families and students alike.

Future

As Trump continues to rally with his tariffs, he is also sending a message to the young students across the country. His “America First” campaign and protectionist stance — that trade agreements should prioritize U.S. interests above all else — inadvertently teaches young students to reject the value of global cooperation. Trump’s retaliatory measures fuel a cycle of retaliation rather than fostering collaboration. 

Recognizing the necessity of global cooperation is crucial to ensure that the next generation truly understands the complexities of our world. Yet, the current political landscape instills biases and creates a fear of cooperation. Schools can guide students through the political atmosphere by fostering critical thinking and nuanced discussions about global issues.

“A lot of times, schools avoid the topic of politics because of how polarized our political climate is,” Overmann said. “But [if] schools can talk more about different political issues without [expressing] opinions, people would know more [about] the issues, like what a tariff really means. [Schools] could do more to describe current political issues, because we talk a lot about the history of it, but [schools] could do a better job of connecting it to the present.” 

Our students are leaders of tomorrow. If they are taught to fear collaboration and understanding, the consequences will ripple far beyond the classroom, shaping a future marked by division and conflict.

“There’s too much [global] interconnectedness to withdraw from,” Trotier said. “The future [means] working on the connections [rather] than pulling back from them.”