Back in 2000 Donald Trump wrote something that looks like a prediction: heʼd make himself the main trade-guy if elected president. Now about 24 years later‚ this idea seems to be coming true
His first-term trade boss Robert Lighthizer isnt coming back which means big changes are coming. The new trade team looks quite different: a mix of fresh-faces and old friends (including Peter Navarro who spent some time in jail for not talking about jan 6th stuff)
The first Trump term was kind of old-school with its trade fights: they used well-known rules did proper investigations and made deals that everyone could understand. Now things look way more wild - hes talking about putting huge tariffs on stuff from everywhere
- 25% tax on everything from Canada and Mexico
- 100% tariffs for BRICS countries if they dont use dollars
- Possible new taxes for Europe about defense spending
The new approach is super-different from what we saw before. Jamieson Greer whoʼs only 44 will be the new trade chief; Howard Lutnick whos never done government work before will run commerce stuff. Even Kevin Hassett - a guy who likes free trade - is joining the team
The whole thing looks pretty messy - theres no experienced person like Lighthizer to keep things in order. Last time he helped make the US-Mexico-Canada deal work but now Trump wants to maybe break it. Nobody really knows whatʼll happen next; its gonna be a wild ride for world trade
What I would do … would be to appoint myself U.S. trade representative
Some people say Lighthizer didnt get picked cause he didnt hang out enough at mar-a-lago: others think Trump just wanted someone whoʼd do bigger crazier stuff. Either way the world better get ready for some real unpredictable trade moves