Trump is determined to pursue his trade war – and he may be difficult to stop

Donald Trump appears determined to pursue his trade war agenda, reportedly seeking new legal avenues to impose tariffs on exports to the United States. This follows a February Supreme Court decision that struck down tariffs he had previously levied based on the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA).

Policy experts and wonks have been speculating about the new legal justifications Trump might employ. His administration is reportedly trawling through statutes to find ways to re-establish trade roadblocks. The invocation of the Smoot-Hawley Act, a historical piece of legislation associated with escalating global trade disputes, is highlighted as a particularly dangerous potential strategy.

Eduardo Porter, a journalist specializing in economics and politics, suggests that Trump may have found a "killer weapon" to punish countries at will. The article implies that stopping Trump's trade policies may prove difficult, given his persistent efforts to find new justifications for imposing tariffs.