What did Donald Trump do today?
He imposed more tariffs, for reasons that don't actually exist.
Trump tweeted in the middle of the night that
Brazil and Argentina have been presiding over a massive devaluation of their currencies. which is not good for our farmers. Therefore, effective immediately, I will restore the Tariffs on all Steel & Aluminum that is shipped into the U.S. from those countries[.]
As Reuters noted:
In fact, the opposite is true: Both countries have actively been trying to strengthen their respective currencies against the dollar.
It's not clear what the real reason for Trump's action was, if there was one. But South American farmers have benefited from the United States being shut out of certain Chinese agricultural markets, thanks to Trump's two-year-old trade war.
Why is this a bad thing?
- "In fact, the opposite is true" is not something that should appear in neutral coverage of a president's policy announcements.
- Trade wars are not "easy to win."