Why Trump’s Tariffs Are GREAT For America

From all the fear-mongering the liberal media is pushing, it may seem like Trump’s tariff plan is doing more harm than good. There are so many stories being pushed like prices increasing, the economy failing, and people regretting their vote. While there may be some truth to this, let’s look at the conservative argument for Trump’s tariff plan, and why it is are great for America and its future.

What Are Tariffs?

A tariff is a tax on imported goods from foreign countries. They’re generally used as a source of revenue for the government, to protect domestic products and industries, encourage investment, and as a negotiation tool. They can also be used as a form of national security.

Trump has been using tariffs for all of these, and his administration claims that about $9 trillion in total investment commitments have been secured as a result of his tariff policies. Although some experts claim 5-6 trillion dollars, it is still a large number.

All this tariff talk can become confusing and overwhelming, especially with the media’s unfair and opinionated coverage. So what is Trump’s tariff plan exactly?

What Is Trump’s Tariff Plan?

As of the May 7th, 2025, Trump’s plan is this:

1. Reciprocal Tariffs: Tariffs on imports will reflect the total trade barriers (tariffs + non-tariff + “cheating”) of the exporting country, with a 10% baseline tariff on all imports (20:00)
2. Automotive Tariffs: Proposal of a 25% tariff on all foreign-made automobiles (8:00)
3. Domestic Exemption: No tariffs for companies producing within the U.S (27:00)
4. China: a 145% for most goods from China, and certain Chinese products facing a 245% tax
5. Canada and Mexico: Initially, a 25% tariff was imposed on most imports from Canada and Mexico, but both of the countries were later granted indefinite exemptions for goods that comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)
6. Film Industry: A potential 100% tariff on foreign movies
7. Metals: 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports
8. Venezuela: 25% tariff on countries purchasing Venezuelan oil

In addition, on April 9th, 2025, Trump announced a 90-day pause on tariff increases for most U.S. trading partners and reducing them to 10% to encourage negotiation. However, this did not include China because, according to Trump, they “refused to negotiate,” which lead to steep a increase in tariffs on Chinese goods of up to 145%.

This put China in economic checkmate, by bottlenecking its ability to export goods to the U.S. at competitive prices and limiting its options in entering into agreements with other countries. Trump’s goal is to push China towards negotiation with his administration. It left China with only a few options:

1. Negotiation With the United States: This is China’s most obvious and probably its most favorable option, putting China exactly where Trump wants them.
2. Negotiate With Other Countries: China could create new trade agreements with other countries, but then those countries would risk heavy retaliation by Trump’s tariffs.
3. Export To Other Countries: China could export to other countries, but it would be hard to match the size of the United States’ market.
4. Counter-Tariff Retaliation: China could impose their own tariffs on the U.S. as a form of retaliation (and they have been), but it would likely hurt China more in the long run because they are more economically reliant on the U.S. than the U.S. is on them.
5. Domesticate Their Economy: China could increase domestic consumption and become more self-reliant, but this would take time and require significant changes.
6. Devalue the Yuan: China could devalue their currency to offset the costs of tariffs, but it would likely lead to major economic issues.
7. Shift to a Service-Based Economy: China could move from a manufacturing-based to a serviced-based economy, but it would likely take a long time.

You can hear President Trump speak about his tariff plan on April 2nd, 2025 he called “Liberation Day,” and reference the timestamps provided above by clicking watching this video:

Why Does the US Need Trump’s Tariffs?

While tariffs can be very complex and intricate, let’s simplify why the United States even needs tariffs in the first place.

The United States has for a long time been treated unfairly by global tariff systems and foreign nations now own $26 trillion more in U.S. assets than the U.S. itself owns. Furthermore, from 1789 to 1913, the United States used high tariffs and other economic strategies, and at that time the country was proportionally the wealthiest it has ever been.

But why does Trump believe the United States needs these tariffs?

As stated above, there are many reasons why President Trump believes that the U.S. needs his tariff plan:

1. As a Source of Revenue: Tariffs by nature make money. Tariffs provide the U.S. government with another source of revenue.
2. To Protect Domestic Products and Industries: Tariffs can ensure that American manufacturers and workers are protected from unfair competition.
3. Encourage Investment: Tariffs make the U.S. market more attractive and encourage companies to invest in American manufacturing and jobs for no tariffs.
4. As a Negotiation Tool: Trump can use and has used tariffs for deal making with other countries.
5. A Form of National Security: Tariffs can reduce reliance on foreign imports and increase national security. If a war with China breaks out, what’s stopping China from blocking key imports to the U.S?
6. To Combat China’s Unfair Practices: Trump accused China of creating “unfair rules” and “filthy pollution havens.” He cited the U.S. Trade Representative’s Foreign Trade Barriers report (5:45).

Is Trump Right About Tariffs?

As of May 7th, 2025, massive investments have been made into the United States. The Trump administration claimed that currently $9 trillion of investments have been made into the U.S. Companies like Apple, Oracle, SoftBank, NVIDIA, TSMC, J&J, META, CMA CGM, and various carmakers collectively investing billions.

Although, while these investments are very significant, the American consumer has seen higher prices and the U.S. economy has taken a heavy hit due to retaliatory measures from trading partners, like China.

Currently, the U.S. economy has both benefited and been hurt because of these tariffs. We will see what the future holds for the country as it goes through potentially rough waters.

Overall, the United States has two main options to its global economic position when it comes to tariffs. The first one is to proceed with tariffs of some sort and regain control of its economy and national security. The second is to back down and become a purely consumer-based economy. This will likely make the U.S. be completely reliant on foreign countries.

As the powerhouse of the globe, it is ridiculous to think that the United States should become economically dependent on other countries and not self-sufficient, especially in the case of a national security crisis. Strategic independence, whether in technology, energy, or manufacturing, must remain a top priority. Tariffs may be controversial, but they represent one tool in the broader effort to protect American interests, restore industrial strength, and ensure that the country can not be held hostage to foreign supply chains.