Are America’s tariff tactics a modern tea party?
Published:Tuesday | April 15, 2025 | 12:06 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
The recent tariffs imposed by the United States on its trading partners reflect less a concern about trade imbalances and more a signal of a superpower grappling with its waning dominance. Whether one supports or opposes Donald Trump, it is evident that he is a realist – someone who sees and responds to shifting global realities. He recognises that the era when the United States stood unchallenged as a global exemplar is fading. Today, the US finds itself under greater scrutiny – and not always in a favourable light.
From the January 6 Capitol insurrection to ongoing concerns about voter suppression and gerrymandering, trust in the US democratic process has eroded both at home and abroad.
This decline extends beyond politics. The US boasts some of the world’s finest hospitals, yet scores don’t have access to healthcare due to prohibitive costs. The US ranks 27th in key health indicators such as access, equity, and outcomes. A system meant to serve all has become a dividend machine for shareholders to the detriment of everyone else.
Economically, the rise of corporate globalisation has created massive inequality. The capitalist elite have thrived, outsourcing once-secure middle-class jobs to countries offering cheaper labour and lower taxes. America today resembles a blue chip corporation, giving generous dividends for shareholders and CEOs, while the working class has to juggle between multiple jobs just to survive.
President Trump has tapped into the frustration of everyday Americans. He understands that many countries competing with the US, India, Brazil – have risen in global influence, with improving education, healthcare, and infrastructure. In response, his administration has sought to reassert control, pushing back against global systems that seem to disadvantage American workers. Tariffs on Chinese goods were intended to rebalance trade, but they’ve ignited a trade war with consequences for American consumers and farmers alike – any of whom rely on Chinese imports as much as they scroll through TikTok.
These seemingly aggressive trade measures may project strength, but reveal a deeper anxiety: the fear of losing dominance in an increasingly multipolar world. And this anxiety isn’t unprecedented.
In fact, we can recall the frustrations that gave birth to the United States itself. The Boston Tea Party of 1773 was a bold protest against taxation without representation – an act of defiance against an imperial power’s economic control. Much like the colonists who resented being pawns in a system rigged by Britain, today’s US leadership, particularly under Trump, has pushed back against international trade rules and alliances that are no longer seen as beneficial.
Ironically, the revolutionary spirit that once made America a global force for change now fuels its retreat from global cooperation. In the 18th century, Americans fought for independence and a voice at the table. In the 21st century, the United States appears to be flipping that table entirely, frustrated by the rise of new powers and its own perceived decline.
Whether this signals a new path to renewal or a further slide into isolationism depends on America’s ability to reconcile its founding ideals with the complex, interconnected realities of the modern world.
FRANK PEART