Early Promises and Initial Actions

• Campaign Rhetoric and Early Proposals (2016–2017):

Even before taking office, Trump’s rallies were filled with promises to “put America first” and to counter what he described as unfair trade practices. At a campaign rally in June 2016, he previewed plans to use tariffs as a tool to protect American jobs and industries.

• First Tariff Measures (January–March 2018):

Once in office, the administration quickly moved to implement tariff policies. In January 2018, tariffs were imposed on washing machines and solar panels—a first step intended to safeguard emerging domestic industries. Shortly thereafter, on March 8, 2018, President Trump ordered a 25% tariff on steel imports and a 10% tariff on aluminum. In official statements at the time, he asserted,

“When our national security was threatened by an oversupply of steel and aluminum, we took decisive action to protect American jobs.”

This set the tone for what would become a broader strategy.

The Escalation: Tariffs on China and Beyond

• Tariffs Under Section 301 (April–September 2018):

As investigations into Chinese trade practices advanced, the administration launched tariffs specifically targeting Chinese goods. On April 3, 2018, plans were unveiled to impose 25% tariffs on approximately US$50 billion worth of Chinese imports. Over the following months, these measures expanded dramatically. By September 2018, 10% tariffs on US$200 billion worth of Chinese goods had been implemented, with rates scheduled to rise further by January 2019.

• A Defining Trade War:

The growing list of tariff measures—ranging from steel and aluminum duties to extensive tariffs on Chinese products—transformed the trade dispute into a full-blown trade war. Officials repeatedly justified these tariffs as necessary to “counter unfair trade practices” and to safeguard national security, echoing the core “America First” message.

• Impact and Reactions:

The early actions sparked retaliation from trading partners and ignited a prolonged period of uncertainty in global markets. Economists and industry experts debated the long-term economic impact, with many studies indicating that while tariffs protected certain domestic industries, they also raised prices for American consumers and disrupted global supply chains.