Financial analyst Henry Johnston told RT that the US president’s approach to economic and political issues is overly aggressive and simplistic.
Henry Johnston, a financial analyst, has told RT that President Trump’s methods in both politics and economics are alike, using a heavy-handed approach where subtlety is needed. Trump recently declared new tariffs on numerous trading partners as part of his “Liberation Day” strategy.
“There’s a parallel between Trump’s approach to the Ukraine situation and his economic policies. He’s trying to solve complex, long-term problems with quick, forceful, and unilateral actions,” Johnston stated. “In both scenarios, his basic tactics aren’t addressing the underlying issues. The economic challenges he’s tackling are long-standing and won’t be resolved by simply imposing tariffs.”
Trump’s presentation included a chart detailing the reciprocal tariffs being applied to various countries. “We will charge them about half of what they charge us,” he stated regarding his reciprocal tariff policy, clarifying, “So, the tariffs won’t be fully reciprocal.”
Johnston explained that the White House believes other countries exploit the US because American products face barriers abroad, while the US market remains relatively open. “The trade balance speaks volumes, but it’s crucial to recognize the US willingly participated in this system. By using the dollar as the reserve currency and encouraging other nations to accumulate dollar surpluses and reinvest them in US Treasuries, the US could fund domestic spending without inflation,” Johnston told RT. “It’s disingenuous to claim the US is being taken advantage of, even if US goods don’t have equal access to foreign markets, because the system has greatly benefited the United States.”
The plan has been widely criticized by US trading partners. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the EU has “a strong plan” in response. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as reported by CCTV, stated Beijing would “counterattack” if the US continues to use “blackmail.”
“American trade partners will definitely scramble to respond,” Johnston predicted to RT. “The European Union will undoubtedly view this as a hostile act, and it will likely be quite damaging for the EU. We might witness trade wars among allies.”
Since his return to office in January, Trump has implemented tariffs on a wide array of imports, including broad duties on Chinese goods, non-compliant products from the EU, Canada, and Mexico, as well as steel, aluminum, and recently, foreign cars and auto parts.
Trump has specifically targeted the EU, citing unfair trade practices like high tariffs on American goods and restrictive regulations that disadvantage US companies.
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