By Matt Underwood Trump announces 30% tariffs on EU and Mexico – well, here we go again. Seems like whenever the headlines get a little too focused on… let’s just say, other matters, a fresh round of tariff announcements magically appears. It’s almost like clockwork. And it’s a familiar pattern: big announcement, a lot of noise, and then… well, we’ll see what actually happens.
When Trump says he’s imposing these tariffs, it’s starting to feel less like genuine policy and more like a demand. A demand to be “bribed,” if you will. He wants to leverage the US market access. Think of it as a high-stakes negotiation where the opening bid is always, *always* a threat. Like when he learned about copper during his Africa trip – suddenly a 50% tariff on that. It’s not really about the copper; it’s about the power play.
It’s not hard to understand what’s going on. It’s a mob shakedown on a global scale. And the target audience is clear: the American consumer. This “announcement” means a 30% tax increase on goods purchased from the EU and Mexico. It’s as simple as that. Don’t expect to find a detailed list. The details are secondary. The message? “Pay up.”
The crucial thing is that this whole game is causing American consumers to pay the tax. And what’s even more striking is the effect on the US’s negotiating power. These actions have probably nuked whatever influence tariffs may once have held. With Trump changing his mind every other month, it seems impossible to be taken seriously in these trade agreements. The tactic is to announce an agreement, then change course. It is hurting American businesses, and frankly, he seems to care little.
Of course, these announcements are also designed to get attention away from the real issues. The Epstein files, for example. It’s a classic magician’s trick: Look over *here* at the shiny new tariffs! Don’t pay attention to what’s happening over *there*. The timing is always convenient. And in the meantime, we’ll wait for Taco Tuesday. Which, as we know, will likely be “extended” or, more likely, completely reversed.
The proposed tariffs and their actual implementation may differ considerably. The markets may react or, more likely, they will not. The question is, will any of this lead to positive changes? Is it really an effective strategy, or is it just another symptom of something else?
Many countries, like those in the EU, Canada, Brazil, and the UK, are likely considering a response. Should Trump impose a 30% tariff on EU goods, the EU (and likely many others) will retaliate with reciprocal tariffs. The result? Everyone gets hurt.
This whole situation is nothing more than market manipulation. It’s a way to crash the market for his benefit and the benefit of his rich friends. But at the end of the day, who’s going to pay for all this? We, the consumers. The Americans. The American citizens. The public are the ones losing. So the main goal is to make money for the wealthy, and this strategy appears to have the desired effect for a select few.