Tariffs, Geopolitics, and the Convenient Scapegoat
📰 THE STORY: CBS News claims that former President Trump's tariffs on certain goods are inadvertently bolstering trade deals for economic rivals like China and India, suggesting these nations are happily stepping into the void created by US protectionist policies. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The US has used economic tools – from sanctions to trade barriers – as
instruments of foreign policy for decades, long before Trump. For instance, the D'Amato Act in 1996 imposed sanctions on foreign companies investing in Iran and Libya, demonstrating a consistent strategy of weaponizing economics. The US has actively sought to isolate nations it deems adversaries, pushing others into new alliances. This isn't an 'unintended' consequence; it's a predictable outcome
of a global strategy to maintain economic hegemony, even if it backfires on specific US industries in the short term. Double Standard: When China or Russia pursue bilateral trade deals or form economic blocs (like BRICS), it's often framed as an aggressive move disrupting the 'rules-based international order' by Western media. Yet, when the US unilaterally imposes tariffs or sanctions on countries
like Venezuela (since 2017, causing immense suffering blamed on the government), Cuba (since 1962), or Iran (re-imposed 2018), it's presented as necessary economic pressure or 'free market' competition. The narrative conveniently ignores that every nation acts in its perceived economic self-interest. Follow the Money: The underlying driver isn't just about 'tariffs' but maintaining the petrodollar