President Donald Trump said Friday that he reached a deal to increase beef imports into the United States with the goal of driving down prices. 
Trump said up to 300,000 metric tons of beef would be allowed to be imported into the country over a 90-day period without facing tariffs. Beef prices have increased by almost 12% in the last year, according to the most recent data from the Department of Agriculture. 
“Today, I concluded a deal to substantially lower the price of ground beef for working American families. As everyone knows, under President Biden, beef prices soared at their fastest rate and the American beef herd fell to its smallest size in modern history,” the president wrote on Truth Social. 
“As we work to rebuild this herd and help our ranchers, for the next 90 days, the United States will allow up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef to be imported with no out of quota tariff,” he added. “We have a commitment that this beef will be sold at 25 percent below current market prices. This deal will reduce prices for Americans while giving space for our Great American Beef Herd to grow again.”
Research <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/summary-findings">indicates</a> that the American cattle herd has fallen to its lowest level in 75 years and the Economic Research Service recently noted that “wholesale beef prices remain at all-time highs for this time of year.” In June 2026, beef and veal prices were up 11.8% from June 2025 and prices are predicted to only increase. 
Beef prices have been a persistent problem for Trump throughout his second term. He has taken numerous actions aimed at reducing prices, including signing an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/02/ensuring-affordable-beef-for-the-american-consumer/">executive order</a> in February 2026 increasing the amount of beef Argentina could export to the United States. 
That executive order noted the declining American cattle herd, the threat of New World screwworm, and persistent wildfires in cattle-producing states. 
Trump <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2025/11/trump-administration-cracks-down-on-foreign-owned-meat-packing-cartels/">also directed</a> the Justice Department to launch investigations into meat packing companies over alleged collusion to drive up prices. 
“This decisive action targets the foreign-dominated conglomerates that control America’s meat supply and have been accused of artificially inflating prices at the expense of farmers, ranchers, and working families,” Trump said at the time. 
Food prices could play a role in the midterm elections as Democrats across the country are running on the issue of affordability.

US-POLITICS-TRUMP

Trump Just Went After A Grocery Staple That’s Been Hammering Americans

Beef

Beef prices

Donald Trump

Economy

Inflation

Tariffs

Walmart has received nearly all of the $2.9 billion in tariff refunds it was eligible for, and the retail giant says its customers will benefit through lower prices. 
&#8220;We&#8217;re investing heavily in price because customers need us to and because we believe it drives market share gains over time,&#8221; Walmart CFO John David Rainey <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/walmart-tariff-refunds-lower-prices/">said</a> in the company’s quarterly earnings call Thursday.
Walmart and other businesses that paid tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are receiving refunds after the Supreme Court struck down the levies. So far, the federal government has refunded about $100 billion in IEEPA tariffs out of an estimated $166 billion owed, <a href="https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/08/tariff-refunds-reach-100-billion-mark/">leaving</a> roughly $66 billion still to be reimbursed. 
Walmart said it plans to use the tariff refund to <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/walmart-tariff-refunds-lower-prices/">invest</a> in lower prices, particularly on groceries and general merchandise, as consumers continue to seek relief from elevated prices. The company said customers should begin seeing the impact of those investments in the third quarter. 
Walmart has historically proved resilient during periods of economic uncertainty and high inflation, when consumers often turn to lower-priced retailers and cheaper brands. The company appears to be leaning into that advantage as consumers continue to grapple with elevated prices. 
&#8220;We’re investing in prices because customers are looking to us for value,&#8221; the company added in a statement. 
The announcement follows a round of price cuts the retail giant recently rolled out.
&#8220;This summer, we&#8217;re making even more investments in price, with thousands of Rollbacks across the products customers are shopping for most, including beef, fresh produce and beverages, grills, pools, toys and summer fashion apparel,” said Walmart executive Julie Barber. 
 The cuts included fresh ground beef falling from $6.74 to $5.94 per pound, 24-packs of Coca-Cola dropping from $14.97 to $9.97, and bags of red cherries falling from $11.18 to $5.63, among other discounts.
President Trump took credit for Walmart&#8217;s price cuts in July, saying the retailer had lowered prices at his administration&#8217;s request to celebrate America&#8217;s 250th birthday. 
“Great news! I have just been informed that one of the biggest, best, and smartest retailers in America, Walmart, will be lowering prices, by a lot, at my Administration’s request to celebrate our great Country’s 250th birthday,” Trump said. 
Walmart&#8217;s announcement of the summer rollbacks did not mention the Trump administration or attribute the price cuts to a request from the White House.

A Walmart Store Ahead Of Earnings Figures

Walmart Has Good News For Americans Tired Of High Grocery Bills

IEEPA

Retailer

Tariff Refund

Walmart

President Donald Trump paused steep 50% tariffs that were set to go in place on Canadian imports, teasing a possible deal over a joint oil pipeline killed by former President Joe Biden. 
The tariffs, announced in July, were set to go into place on Wednesday and hit products like wine, hockey sticks, and cement. Trump posted on Truth Social Tuesday night that the tariffs were being paused while a deal was finalized with Canada that might include reviving the Keystone XL pipeline. 
“I have paused the 50% Tariffs against Canada, that were scheduled to kick in tomorrow morning for a three day period, based on the fact that Canada and the U.S.A., subject to the finalization of documents, have a DEAL! The great Keystone XL Pipeline, long ago killed by Sleepy Joe Biden, may be awoken from the grave!” Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117119761850520698">said</a>. 
The Keystone XL pipeline was set to move oil from Alberta, Canada, to Nebraska, but the project was rejected by former President Barack Obama. The construction process was then started by Trump in his first term before it hit legal delays, and Biden canceled the project after he took office in 2021. At the beginning of Trump&#8217;s second term, he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-wants-to-revive-keystone-xl-pipeline-killed-under-biden-get-it-built-now">called</a> for the Keystone XL pipeline to be restarted, saying his administration would give “easy approvals” for the project. 
The office of the United States Trade Representative <a href="https://x.com/ustraderep/status/2089905312337658144?s=46">said</a> that the deal would “include comprehensive market access for all American goods, economic security commitments, digital trade alignment, and many important provisions that will continue to protect our market and American workers, along with our Canadian partners.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed that the tariffs were being paused until the end of the day on Friday, saying that “substantial progress has been made, although there is important work still to be done.”
“While we continue this work, Canada remains focused on building a stronger, more independent, and more competitive economy at home,” he added. 
Trump rolled out the new tariffs on July 20, with the White House saying they were necessary to counteract Canada’s  “discriminatory treatment of American products.”
“By doing so, President Trump is offsetting the burden and disadvantage on U.S. commerce from Canada’s discriminatory treatment of U.S. commerce and is leveling the playing field for crucial American exports—cars, alcohol, and dairy,” the White House said.

TOPSHOT-US-CANADA-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY-TRUMP-CARNEY

Trump Hints At Major Oil Pipeline Revival After Breakthrough With Canada

Canada

Keystone XL

Mark Carney

A new report reveals a growing divide among U.S. allies over China.
Titled <a href="https://polaris-us.org/docs/stars-and-stragglers.pdf">Stars and Stragglers</a>, the report from Polaris National Security examined 20 countries across technology infrastructure, economic policy, military cooperation, and diplomatic positions.
&#8220;This report qualitatively assesses which U.S. allies and partners are doing the most to help or hinder America’s efforts to counter China’s economic, technological, military, and diplomatic influence,&#8221; the report states.
Ten of those countries are designated as &#8220;Stars&#8221; for taking concrete steps to limit Beijing&#8217;s power. The remaining nations are designated as &#8220;Stragglers&#8221; for strengthening their ties with China.
The report broke down &#8220;Stars&#8221; as &#8220;Allies and partners helping America counter Chinese aggression and influence.&#8221; &#8220;Stragglers&#8221; were &#8220;Allies and partners failing to counter China — and even undercutting U.S. efforts to do so.&#8221;
Australia was designated a &#8220;Star.&#8221; The nation banned Huawei, absorbed Chinese tariffs without folding, and, according to the report, &#8220;committed nearly $3 billion to expand U.S. and British submarine capacity.&#8221; It joined a critical minerals push with the United States and received a $400 million conditional loan for an aerospace and defense project.
Japan also received a &#8220;Star&#8221; designation. The report stated that &#8220;Aside from Taiwan, no U.S. ally sits closer to the front lines of China’s ambitions than Japan.&#8221; The Far East nation also views China as its &#8220;greatest strategic challenge.&#8221;
The remaining &#8220;Stars&#8221; are: India, Israel, Lithuania, Palau, Paraguay, Philippines, Taiwan, and Ukraine.
Nations designated as &#8220;Stragglers&#8221; are heading in the opposite direction. Brazil&#8217;s trade with China hit $171 billion — more than double its trade with the U.S., while Huawei holds about 44% of its 5G networks.
Canada cut tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles from 100% to 6% and set a goal of raising exports to China by 50%.
South Korea does roughly $340 billion in trade with China, and about half of its rare earth mineral imports come from there, per the report. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung president called the continued partnership with Beijing &#8220;irreversible.&#8221;
France&#8217;s President Emmanuel Macron has told audiences that China is welcome in Europe and has pushed for more Chinese investment in nuclear and artificial intelligence.
Thailand has approved a $10 billion high-speed rail project under the CCP&#8217;s Belt and Road Initiative that will eventually connect Bangkok to China. It also continues joint military exercises with Chinese forces.
Sebastian Borda, executive director of Polaris National Security, expressed what was at stake for the U.S.: “China is the defining national security challenge of our time and the United States cannot meet it alone.”
He added that “many allies are stepping up but others have yet to match that resolve.” Borda said U.S. allies face a choice to “share the burden of deterring China or leave America to shoulder it alone.”
<section></section>

A US and a Chinese flag wave outside a c

Some U.S. Allies Are Selling Out To China

Australia

China

National Security

Taiwan

WASHINGTON— President Donald Trump threatened the European Union with &#8220;substantial&#8221; tariffs on Friday after regulators hit Google with another $1 billion antitrust fine, accusing Europe of treating the United States like its own &#8220;PIGGYBANK.&#8221;
Trump accused the EU of &#8220;taking direct aim at GREAT American Companies!&#8221;
&#8220;After having fined Apple, for no reason at all, 15 Billion Dollars, Meta, 3 Billion Dollars, Amazon 2.5 Billion Dollars, and many others, we have just been informed that Google, a truly advanced and amazing group, has been fined yet another 1 Billion Dollars, without explanation,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116976043318889040">posted</a> on Truth Social.
The latest penalty brings Google&#8217;s total EU fines to more than $18 billion, the president said.
&#8220;This illegal and highly discriminatory practice started at these high levels during the first year of the Sleepy Joe Biden Administration, but it’s not going to continue during the Trump Administration,&#8221; Trump said, adding: &#8220;The United States of America is not a &#8216;PIGGYBANK&#8217; for Europe, nor will we allow it to be!&#8221;
<div id="attachment_1143205" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-threatens-european-union-after-massive-fines-on-google/president-trump-hosts-2025-world-series-champions-los-angeles-dodgers" rel="attachment wp-att-1143205"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1143205" class="wp-image-1143205 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2286736761-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2286736761-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2286736761-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2286736761-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2286736761.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>US President Donald Trump speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, July 23, 2026. Photographer: Samuel Corum/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images</div>
Trump warned that the EU&#8217;s actions would trigger a strong response from the United States.
&#8220;Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that we will immediately initiate a 301 Investigation into the practice of &#8216;ROBBING&#8217; American Companies and, in turn, the American Taxpayer,&#8221; Trump wrote. &#8220;The European Union will pay a very big price for this illegal and highly unethical conduct, which I have consistently warned them about.&#8221;
&#8220;The penalties will be entirely reversed and, we anticipate, a substantial TARIFF to be placed on them at the earliest possible moment,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Stay tuned!&#8221;
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Daily Wire.

All-In and Hill & Valley Forum Host “Winning The AI Race”

Trump Threatens European Union After Massive Fines On Google

Amazon

Apple

Europe

European Union

Executive

Global Politics

Google

Politics

President Donald Trump on Friday blamed Canada for sending wildfire smoke into the United States and said the costs associated with the pollution &#8220;must of necessity be added&#8221; to tariffs on Canadian imports.
In a Truth Social post, Trump accused Canada of &#8220;willful negligence,&#8221; saying America is &#8220;being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air.&#8221; The president said he planned to call Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney later Friday to figure out a solution.
&#8220;Canada has refused to engage in basic Forest Management and Debris Removal, knowing that such refusal will lead to exactly this result,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116936952365066409">wrote</a>. &#8220;This is Willful Negligence, and becoming a yearly occurrence, costing the United States Billions of Dollars, which cost of this pollution must of necessity be added to the TARIFFS Canada is currently paying.&#8221;
Trump&#8217;s post comes as hundreds of Canadian wildfires sent smoke south, leading to air quality advisories for more than 100 million Americans in 18 states and Washington, D.C. Images of hazy, gray skies across much of the Midwest and Northeast flooded social media, blurring skylines, reducing visibility, and triggering some outdoor cancellations.
Nearly <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/canada-wildfire-smoke-response-d0d3613a">900 wildfires</a> are burning across Canada, forcing evacuations and threatening remote communities after a major wave of blazes erupted over the past two weeks.
The hardest-hit U.S. cities have been in the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest, including Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Cleveland, where Major League Baseball <a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-pirates-guardians-0a1b831efa3f58d79e560a4e867d83dd?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">postponed</a> Friday night&#8217;s Guardians-Pittsburgh Pirates game after the air quality reached the &#8220;very unhealthy&#8221; category. The smoke has also raised questions about Sunday&#8217;s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
&#8220;We want to be safe for our players,&#8221; Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. &#8220;We want to make sure that it&#8217;s not too smoky and obviously for the fans as well. It&#8217;s just not safe to be out in that environment if it&#8217;s not playable.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Where did Lake Erie go? <a href="https://t.co/C1y4rFLYVg">pic.twitter.com/C1y4rFLYVg</a>
— News 5 Cleveland (@WEWS) <a href="https://x.com/WEWS/status/2078096444032987502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
As of Friday evening, Prime Minister Carney had not publicly responded to Trump&#8217;s comments or tariff threat. Canada is already subject to multiple rounds of tariffs from the Trump administration. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who has pushed back against Trump&#8217;s trade agenda, fired back.
&#8220;If there&#8217;s some politicians out there chirping away, well maybe what you should do rather than complain, is send support, send help, because we have done the exact same thing for our American friends,&#8221; he <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/us-complaints-trump-widlfire-smoke-9.7274466">said</a>.

Chicago, July 17, 2026

Trump Says America Is Being ‘Unnecessarily Invaded’ By Canadian Wildfire Smoke

Environment

Wildfires

Toyota announced Monday that it would invest $3.6 billion to expand production of its Tacoma pickup truck in Texas, moving most of the model&#8217;s manufacturing from Mexico to the United States over the next four years. 
Toyota said the investment will expand its San Antonio plant and shift most Tacoma production from its Tijuana, Mexico, facility.
The expansion will increase annual production capacity by 150,000 vehicles. The company will add a second assembly line to support the Tacoma truck. 
President Donald Trump celebrated the company&#8217;s plans in a post on Truth Social Tuesday morning.
Production will shift over four years, with the Tijuana plant continuing to manufacture Tacomas during the transition before Texas becomes the main production site. The San Antonio plant currently produces Tundra pickups and Sequoia SUVs.
The investment follows Toyota&#8217;s <a href="https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/43553969.html">announcement</a> in November 2025 that it planned to invest up to $10 billion in additional U.S. investment over five years.
“Toyota’s continued investment in North America is a testament to our confidence in the region’s workforce, innovation and long-term growth potential,” said Ted Ogawa, President and CEO of Toyota Motor North America, on Monday.
Toyota joins other automakers shifting production to the United States in response to tariffs on imported vehicles and auto parts.
The nearly $4 billion expansion is estimated to create nearly 2,000 more on-site jobs in Texas.
“By expanding our San Antonio plant, we are deepening our commitment to American manufacturing, creating meaningful and sustainable jobs, while advancing our mission to deliver high-quality vehicles that meet the changing needs of customers today and into the future,” Ogawa said.

GettyImages-1173365374

World’s Largest Automaker Is Making A Major Manufacturing Shift To America

Auto Companies

Automobiles

Business

While President Donald Trump lost his sweeping tariffs after the Supreme Court ruled against his use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Tuesday that tariffs are far from over.
“What we are doing now is we have investigations ongoing in my office and we are investigating specific unfair trading practices,” Greer <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2026/06/02/u-s-trade-rep-greer-were-investigating-specific-unfair-trade-practices-by-different-countries.html">told</a> CNBC. “You will see over the next few weeks, we will be releasing our findings. We are covering a lot of countries, over 70 countries. If we find unfair trading practices — structural excess capacity, forced labor, things like this — we will put out proposals on how we think we should fix it and that may be proposed tariffs.” 
Trump initially relied on IEEPA because it allowed him to impose broad tariffs quickly without the lengthy investigative processes required under traditional trade laws.
“When the president used his emergency authority he was able to move very quickly to get at this issue, get a lot of leverage, and impose tariffs,” Greer explained.
After the Supreme Court blocked Trump&#8217;s use of IEEPA earlier this year, the administration turned to Section 122 and implemented a temporary 10% tariff on February 24. But unlike the tariffs announced on &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; in April 2025, Section 122 tariffs are temporary by law and were later struck down by the U.S. Court of International Trade.
With those options curtailed, the administration has shifted its focus to Sections 301 and 232: the two principal trade authorities that require the involvement of Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Greer said the results of his Section 301 investigations would be released in the coming weeks, which could introduce new tariffs across the world. Under Section 301, the Office of the United States Trade Representative investigates whether foreign countries are engaging in unfair trade practices, gathers evidence, solicits public comments, and holds hearings before recommending tariffs or other trade restrictions. 
That is the same authority Trump used to impose tariffs on China during his first term. Those tariffs survived legal challenges, but investigations typically take between three and nine months to complete, making them slower and less useful as an immediate negotiating tool than emergency tariff authorities.
Lutnick, like Greer, can also launch investigations, not into unfair trade practices, but into industries that are crucial to national security. Unlike Greer’s Section 301 investigations, which focus on unfair trade practices, Lutnick’s Section 232 investigations examine whether imports threaten industries deemed critical to national security. Those investigations allowed Trump to impose tariffs if the Commerce Department determines that a strategic industry is vulnerable because of import dependence. 
The department began launching Section 232 investigations just weeks after Trump returned to office. Global Trade Alert <a href="https://globaltradealert.org/blog/s232-expanding-when-ieepa-fell">observed</a> that Section 232 “had never stopped expanding” and noted that the administration had launched, relaunched, or expanded roughly 20 actions from the section before the Supreme Court ruled against Trump&#8217;s IEEPA tariffs, suggesting the White House was already building alternative pathways for trade restrictions.
The pathway no longer available is Trump&#8217;s ability to wield tariffs during negotiations.
In January, he threatened to impose tariffs on countries that do business with Iran, citing the country’s repression of protesters, support for proxy terrorist groups, and continued pursuit of nuclear capabilities. In negotiations with China, Trump warned that tariffs would increase if China continued withholding rare earth minerals from the United States. Rare earth minerals are vital for products ranging from household appliances and automobiles to semiconductors for artificial intelligence chips.
The delay in collecting additional tariff revenue could raise budget concerns, with Trump repeatedly claiming that tariffs would help fund the extension of his 2017 tax cuts in the &#8220;Big Beautiful Bill.&#8221;

President Trump Holds “Make America Wealthy Again Event” In White House Rose Garden

Is Trump Working On A ‘Liberation Day’ Part Two?

Trade War

Trump Administration

President Donald Trump was elected on a promise to revitalize America’s heartland by reviving the manufacturing industry, which has no doubt seen a steady erosion of jobs under successive administrations. Part of Trump’s grand strategy is tariffs, including Section 232 <a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IN12519">tariffs</a> aimed at making it more expensive to import certain products from abroad, including pharmaceuticals, copper, steel, and aluminum. The legal case for 232 tariffs has been stretched to the limit, and consumers pay for it at car dealerships and in <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/business/steel-tariffs-tin-cans-food-prices.html">grocery</a> aisles.
The White House’s central <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/04/trump-effect-american-manufacturing-is-roaring-back-as-factory-activity-hits-four-year-high/">claim</a> is that the steep 50% tariffs will “bring manufacturing back to America — and his [Trump’s] policies are delivering the largest reshoring wave in American history.” But the facts simply don’t bear that out.
Take steel, for example. Has U.S. domestic steel production actually increased because of the Trump administration’s tariffs on imports? Barely. In 2025, American steel production rose by just <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-steel-rebounds-under-trump-124500983.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAEfXMuMFy2WUizAXMyDY0C4aMmjIODFTYVz-NQQbsXlUzAL4d6Wudz5UQkADVxA4ARUdNi-A7OX3l3iPrWwOSD3jcxHdpVnZ0jEFEmIHsqeBi2bfcz7c7qgptUuHPiKzpY9X7fUjq4dPCTxndbUpr465F4Vbxyk61ofI5x0IRBTF">3%</a>. Worse still, the Tax Foundation estimates that <a href="https://taxfoundation.org/research/all/federal/trump-tariffs-trade-war/">104,000</a> U.S. jobs have been lost in relation to Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper.
The Peterson Institute for International Economics has found that every steel job “saved” by the Trump administration’s policies has cost U.S. taxpayers<a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-ottawa-must-steel-itself-against-tariffs/"> $650,000</a>. It’s unlikely that voters who backed tariffs envisioned subsidized jobs as costly as the salaries of Wall Street executives or big-city lawyers.
The math is brutal — tariffs protect <a href="https://www.mercatus.org/economic-insights/expert-commentary/steel-and-aluminum-tariffs-do-more-harm-good">one</a> steelworker for every 80 jobs that depend on affordable steel inputs — such as the automotive, rail, and housing sectors. On the consumer side, Canadian jet ski manufacturer BRP Inc. has <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-14/sea-doo-maker-brp-gets-crushed-by-us-tariff-changes-pulls-outlook">cut</a> $353 million from its 2027 balance sheet projections due to the tariffs. Summer adventurers looking to buy or rent a Sea-Doo for the lake will inevitably pay more. The same goes for food that requires a tin can, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/business/steel-tariffs-tin-cans-food-prices.html#:~:text=As%20tariffs%20push%20up%20the%20cost%20of%20American%20canned%20goods%2C%20imports%20of%20foreign%20canned%20goods%20are%20rising.%20That%E2%80%99s%20in%20part%20because%20they%20benefit%20from%20a%20loophole%20that%20puts%20American%20canned%20products%20at%20a%20disadvantage%3A%20Imported%20foreign%20cans%20are%20exempt%20from%20the%20steel%20tariffs%20when%20they%20contain%20food.">squeezing domestic suppliers</a> and, perversely, benefiting foreign producers of canned food.
All of this makes Washington’s focus on production rather illogical. Slivers of good news for domestic producers of steel, aluminum, and copper can be devastating for other sectors and consumers.
Affordability is a tricky issue and continues to <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/708905/affordability-dominates-americans-financial-worries.aspx">dominate</a> voters’ concerns heading into the midterm season. The administration seems stuck between its populist promises to revive certain jobs and the reality that this means higher prices on everything from homes to a new tractor. MAGA influencer Benny Johnson <a href="https://x.com/bennyjohnson/status/1908235617873650101">put it this way</a>: &#8220;Losing money means nothing. Digital ones and zeroes. In the end, you won&#8217;t miss any of it. Losing your country costs you everything.&#8221;
This is the definition of a losing message. It&#8217;s also an economically illiterate one. A 50% tariff is a 50% de facto tax on the raw materials U.S. manufacturers need to supply what consumers demand.
The experience of Bremen, Indiana’s BCI Solutions Inc., is instructive. The company is a small metal foundry that sells to a range of agriculture and heavy equipment makers. CEO J.B. Brown <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-factory-headcount-falling-despite-trumps-promised-manufacturing-boom-2026-01-09/">told</a> Reuters that his workforce is down to 130 people from a high of 240 people a couple of years ago.
“Every time I hear that manufacturing is booming, I scream at the TV,” <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-factory-headcount-falling-despite-trumps-promised-manufacturing-boom-2026-01-09/">said</a> Brown.
Far from reshoring jobs, tariff policies are costing them.
Because of these policies, companies like Brown’s have seen input prices soar, making their products more expensive and thereby weakening demand. The end result is the need to lay off workers, which is exactly the opposite of the boom Trump promised would follow his protectionist tariff policies.
It’s time for Mr. Trump to put down the cudgel of tariffs, and if he wants to revive the manufacturing industry, fully rescind his Section 232 tariffs and reduce the federal government’s role in the economy. Consumers will be the first to benefit, and that will redound to the president’s benefit in November, but the clock is ticking.
***
Stephen Kent is a conservative commentator and author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Force-Can-Fix-World/dp/1546000461">How The Force Can Fix The World: Lessons on Life, Liberty &amp; Happiness From a Galaxy Far, Far Away.</a> Kent is the Media Director for the Consumer Choice Center. Follow him @<a href="https://x.com/StephenKentX">StephenKentX</a>.

tariffs word on calculator screen with Invoice and export – Import declaration report.

The Trump ‘Affordability’ Policy That’s Hurting More Than It Helps

DW Opinion

Jobs

Manufacturing

Special Reporting

NEW YORK, May 8 (Reuters) &#8211; The Trump administration on Friday appealed a court ruling that found a 10% global tariff imposed in February was not justified under a 1970s trade law.
The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled on Thursday in a 2-1 decision that Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act was not meant to address trade deficits that occur when the U.S. imports more goods than it exports. The court, however, only blocked the tariffs for three importers that sued &#8211; two small businesses and the state of Washington.
While the ruling applies to a set of levies due to expire in about two months, it marks another setback for Trump&#8217;s global tariff ambitions and comes a week before he is due to discuss trade tensions with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
It also sets the stage for another protracted legal battle over billions of dollars&#8217; worth of tariff refunds, three months after the U.S. Supreme Court struck ​down Trump&#8217;s sweeping global tariffs imposed under a national emergencies law.
Trump blamed the trade court decision on &#8220;two radical left judges&#8221; when speaking to reporters on Thursday. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Friday the Trump administration expects to prevail in the appeal, although he also expressed confidence in earlier tariffs that were ultimately invalidated by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court ruled in February that Trump had no authority to impose the earlier tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, leading Trump to impose replacement tariffs of 10% on all imports using Section 122 of the Trade Act.
The new tariffs were a temporary replacement, and they were due to expire on July 24 unless extended by Congress.
The Trump administration still plans to impose broader tariffs on major trading partners by invoking ⁠a third law that has withstood numerous legal challenges, Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which covers unfair trade practices. It has three Section 301 tariff investigations underway due for completion in July.
(Reporting by Dietrich Knauth; Editing by Rod Nickel and Sanjeev Miglani)

Tariff Ruling Faces Pushback As Trump Blasts ‘Radical Left Judges’

Courts

NEW YORK, May 7 (Reuters) &#8211; The U.S. trade court on Thursday ruled against President Donald Trump&#8217;s latest 10% global tariffs, finding across-the-board tariffs were not justified under a 1970s trade law.
The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled in favor of small businesses that challenged the tariffs, which took effect on February 24. The ruling was 2-1, with one judge saying it was premature to grant victory to the small business plaintiffs.
The small businesses had argued the new tariffs were an attempt to sidestep a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down the Republican president&#8217;s 2025 tariffs ​imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
In his February order, ​Trump invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows for duties for up to 150 days to correct serious &#8220;balance of payments ​deficits&#8221; or head off an imminent depreciation of the dollar.
Thursday&#8217;s court ruling found the law was not an appropriate step for the kinds of trade deficits that Trump cited in his February order.
“This decision is an important win for American companies that rely on global manufacturing to deliver safe and affordable products. Unlawful tariffs make it harder for businesses like ours to compete and grow,” said Jay Foreman, CEO of toymaker Basic Fun!
“We are encouraged by the court’s recognition that these tariffs exceeded the President’s authority. This ruling brings needed clarity and stability for companies navigating global supply chains,&#8221; he said in a statement.
The Trump administration had argued that a serious balance-of-payments deficit existed in the form of a $1.2 trillion annual U.S. goods trade deficit and a current account deficit of 4% of GDP. But some economists and trade lawyers argue the U.S. is not on the cusp of a balance-of-payments crisis, making the new duties vulnerable to a legal challenge.
(Reporting by Dietrich Knauth; Editing by Chris Reese and Sonali Paul)

Pacific Container Terminal in Long Beach, California

Court Moves Against Trump Trade Agenda In Major Ruling

WASHINGTON—A decade into his political career, Donald Trump is still finding precedents to break.
Trump hinted to reporters earlier this week that he would attend Wednesday&#8217;s Supreme Court session, sitting in the gallery as the justices hear oral arguments surrounding his executive order banning birthright citizenship.
“I’m going,” Trump said Tuesday. “I think so. I do believe.”
No sitting president has ever attended oral arguments, though they are technically permitted to do so. Trump said he was going to attend oral arguments for October&#8217;s &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; tariffs case, but later <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/02/donald-trump-supreme-court-tariff-arguments-00633159">changed course</a>. When the High Court ruled against Trump in that case in February, the president <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/20/donald-trump-tariff-supreme-court-reaction-00791245">lashed out</a> at the justices — particularly Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, his appointees — calling them a &#8220;disgrace to our nation&#8221; and suggesting they were corrupted by foreign influences.
Trump reiterated that criticism just days ago at a dinner with the National Republican Congressional Committee.
“The Supreme Court, that’s right, of the United States cost our country — all they needed was a sentence — our country hundreds of billions of dollars, and they couldn’t care less,” <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/26/trump-supreme-court-tariffs-barrett-gorsuch-trade-ieepa-ruling.html">Trump said</a>. “They couldn’t care less.”
“They sicken me because they’re bad for our country,” Trump said, once again singling out Gorsuch and Barrett.
Whether or not this heated rhetoric means the president intends to actually attend the session remains to be seen. But Wednesday&#8217;s case, Trump v. Barbara, is at least as important to the president as the liberation day tariffs.
Shortly after returning to office last year, the president signed an executive order barring the children of illegal immigrants or foreigners with temporary visas from receiving citizenship upon birth. The order, &#8220;Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship&#8221; was swiftly challenged in a number of lawsuits arguing the order violated the 14th Amendment, which affords citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil regardless of their parents’ immigration status.
That definition of the 14th Amendment&#8217;s guarantee of &#8220;birthright citizenship,&#8221; while commonly held, has come under scrutiny in recent years. The Claremont Institute, which filed an <a href="https://www.claremont.org/the-claremont-institute-files-amicus-brief-on-birthright-citizenship/">amicus brief</a> in support of Trump&#8217;s order, has been at the forefront of the charge to rethink the automatic granting of birthright citizenship.
&#8220;The notion that foreign nationals can secure American citizenship for their children merely by being present on U.S. soil — lawfully or unlawfully — has no basis in the text, history, or original understanding of the Fourteenth Amendment,&#8221; Claremont Institute president Ryan Williams said, saying Trump&#8217;s order promoted &#8220;a constitutional understanding of citizenship — one based on consent, allegiance, and a nation’s sovereign right to define its own political community.”
Opponents say that ending birthright citizenship will be detrimental to around 150,000 children born to foreign parents on American soil every year.
While Trump could become the first president to attend oral arguments, he is not the first executive to clash with the Supreme Court.
In 1832, the Court handed down a landmark ruling on Native American rights in Worcester v. Georgia. Conventional wisdom held that President Andrew Jackson would have to intervene to ensure state governments obeyed the Court&#8217;s ruling.
Faced with this prospect, Jackson — whom Trump idolizes and whose portrait has hung in the Oval Office during both of the president&#8217;s terms — famously, though likely apocryphally, said, &#8220;John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it.&#8221;
Oral arguments begin at 10:00 a.m. ET.

President Trump And First Lady Melania Trump Host Women’s History Month Event At The White House

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