Tariff Day Is Here, Again!
Peter Zeihan
5 min
The current tariff strategy creates an impossible environment where even the most compliant nations cannot secure deals due to a lack of negotiation staff and shifting deadlines. Business investment has collapsed to levels not seen since COVID because no one knows what the rules are or how to prepare for the next move.
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Donald Trump
Chapters
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0:00
The Global Tariff Reset
Trump has issued identical tariff letters to dozens of nations, from Tunisia to Japan, with no sign of meaningful negotiations or concessions. Uncertainty has halted new business construction in the US, making it cheaper for companies to build manufacturing bases outside North America.
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2:08
Japan's Failed Strategy
Japan, despite making major concessions previously, found that offering everything demanded by Trump still resulted in no deal. No meaningful trade talks are occurring because the Commerce Department and Trade Representative remain understaffed.
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4:37
The Endless Limbo
With deadlines constantly shifting and no resolution in sight, global business has effectively come to a complete stop.
Key points
- 0:00
Trump has issued identical tariff letters to dozens of nations, from Tunisia to Japan, with no sign of meaningful negotiations or concessions.
- 0:00
Uncertainty has halted new business construction in the US, making it cheaper for companies to build manufacturing bases outside North America.
- 2:08
Japan, despite making major concessions previously, found that offering everything demanded by Trump still resulted in no deal.
- 2:08
No meaningful trade talks are occurring because the Commerce Department and Trade Representative remain understaffed.
- 4:37
With deadlines constantly shifting and no resolution in sight, global business has effectively come to a complete stop.
Who and where
People · 1
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Donald Trump 13
President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)
Photo 1
1. Photo: Daniel Torok, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons · Wikidata · redrawn in our house style (Donald Trump)
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