Tariffs, Trump & The Truth About Free Trade: A Reset in Motion
I said it then. I’m saying it again —
Trump’s obsession with tariffs wasn’t a tantrum.
It was a strategy.
A Trump economic strategy, to be precise.
But now, there’s a plot twist.
A U.S. court has called it illegal.
Yep. You read that right.
On May 28, 2025, the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled Trump tariffs — the sweeping global ones — as unlawful.
Turns out, you can’t just slap duties like you’re running a garage sale on nationalism.
The court said: Trump exceeded his authority.
The law (IEEPA) didn’t give him that kind of “economic emergency” power.
Translation: Just because you want “America First” doesn’t mean you can rewrite the rules.
But wait — America loves drama.
So the very next day, a federal appeals court hit pause.
It temporarily reinstated the tariffs, pending full legal review.
Welcome to Season 2 of “Tariffs & Tribunals.”
Trump’s Tariff Tantrum: A Masterstroke… or Mistake?
Let’s rewind the madness.
When Trump went ballistic on imports, the world called him a trade terrorist.
But I called it:
This wasn’t isolation. This was Trump trade policy — negotiation by disruption.
Push the pendulum far enough and you force a reset.
It worked. Sort of.
• Biden kept many tariffs intact.
• India rethought its FTAs.
• China bent but didn’t break.
• Europe’s feeling the squeeze.
Tariffs — once barriers — became bargaining chips.
A temporary reset button for a broken global game.
But if the courts now call the move illegal?
Then the game’s not just changing — it’s under investigation.
America First, But At What Cost?
Let’s not kid ourselves.
Trump’s “America First” wasn’t just a campaign slogan.
It was a full-blown Trump economic strategy.
He wanted U.S. manufacturing back.
He wanted China on its knees.
He wanted control — even if it meant chaos.
But you can’t run the world on whims.
You can’t base trade policy on ego.
Because in the long run, even power needs a passport — and the law just checked his visa.
Global Trade: The Real Game Has No Walls
Here’s what I’ve always said —
You can’t claim to be a global leader and then throw a fit every time someone sells you cheaper steel.
True globalization means:
• Germany builds the best machines
• India writes the best code
• Africa powers the planet
• The US drives ideas
• Japan delivers precision
And they all trade, not trap each other.
That’s how it’s supposed to work.
Not this musical chairs of tariffs, bans, and chest-thumping.
We’re in the era of tariffs and globalization, not isolation.
Short-Term Pain. Long-Term Gain. Legal Clarity.
Yes, Trump tariffs can jolt the system.
Yes, some short-term leverage is smart.
But if your only edge is a tax wall?
Then maybe your product sucks.
And now, with courts calling out the bluff — it’s time to stop hiding behind duties and start building with dignity.
I Said It Before, I’ll Scream It Louder Now
Back when India banned Chinese apps, the TV channels begged me to chant nationalism.
I said:
“Don’t ban. Beat.”
“Don’t cry. Compete.”
Same applies here.
Don’t sue your way to dominance.
Outperform. Outlast. Outclass.
That’s how you win in the game of free trade vs protectionism.
What This Means for the Future
We’re entering a new era where:
• Countries make what they’re great at
• Products win on price, quality, and speed
• Laws matter. Not just loud leaders.
• Tariffs aren’t tools — they’re trials
This is not the end of Trump trade policy or the Trump economic strategy.
It’s just the court asking:
Can you pursue nationalism without nuking legality?
Final Slap of Truth
Trump tariffs might have forced a reset.
But they also forced a legal reckoning.
Because you can’t build sustainable growth on short-circuited laws.
Protectionism is a crutch.
Performance is the cure.
And maybe now, the world will finally get serious about building real strength — not artificial walls.
Want to know how India can rise in this new world where law, not loudness, sets the tone?
Watch this space.
KG isn’t done yet.
We’re just getting started.
