https://talkimg.com/images/2025/04/03/lBbea.pngThis article by the BBC dissects the mathematics used to calculate Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs” revealed during his Liberation Day announcement. The administration said it was based off multiple factors such as existing tariffs, trade barriers, and monetary policy. However, it appears the administration used a much simpler method: The value of exports divided by the value of imports divided by 2. So tariffs appear to be based only on the United States’ trade deficit. If the U.S. had a trade surplus, such as with the United Kingdom, then a base tariff of 10% was applied. Okay, to be honest I usually try to be academic and dispassionate in my personal response, but this is just plain stupid. Tariffs, if used properly, could help grow American manufacturing but again to be blunt, this ain’t it. I’ve never fully bought in that Trump is evil, but I do believe he is an egomaniacal moron. There’s even indications that his cabinet lies to him regularly because any modicum of bad news will get you shut out. But I’m getting sidetracked. In general, what are your thoughts? Can we expect to see a roll-back on these tariffs? What may the next few months look like?
Main source of information is here: How were Donald Trump’s tariffs calculated? 
