Liberation or Trade War?

U.S. President Donald Trump is announcing another round of tariffs Wednesday. The new tariffs follow previous levies on steel and aluminum, as well as imports from China, Canada, and Mexico, and are now expected to include a 25% tariff on all imported cars and light trucks (pickups). The measures are also expected to include reciprocal tariffs on countries with tariffs in place for goods imported from the U.S.

Analysis and eternal perspective: While the issue of tariffs is important on substance, the primary reason this story leads The Equipped this week is because it is nigh impossible to find coverage of it that is not largely an opinion piece. As we often discuss here, opinions (and even public disagreements) about important civic issues are a hallmark of a free society, and essential for the preservation of it. That said, it can be extremely difficult to inform yourself and come to an educated opinion when it is difficult to find any opinion-free coverage.

For example, this piece calls the tariffs “trade wars launched by U.S. President Donald Trump,” while this one frequently uses President Trump’s term, “Liberation Day.” Both will tend to skew your eventual consideration of the underlying policy.

I, too, have a view on tariffs, and it is not one I keep private. After all, trade policy has an outsized impact on both our national security posture and the availability of affordable goods around the world. However, one of our aims together as The Equipped is to grow our ability to interact directly with source material and examine it critically on the merits for ourselves. This story—and it’s timing and relative lack of neutral coverage—give us a prime opportunity to put that goal into practice.

When the tariffs are announced, read them for yourself. Intentionally set aside your preconceived opinion and consider both the pros and cons of the actions (I think you’ll find greater rationale for the side you are disinclined to support than you might think). Do so not to neutralize your view, but in fact to make your participation in the process of self-governance more effective and less subject to the opinion of either those issuing the policy or those covering it.

“In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines” (Pr. 18:17).

The following article originally appeared in Thann’s “The Equipped” Weekly Newsletter. For more information on Thann’s weekly email, click here.