Trump’s Tariffs Have National Security Implications Too

From military supply chains to wounded allies, experts say tariffs may bring security risks

U.S. President Donald Trump displays a signed executive order imposing tariffs on imported goods in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

EXPERT INTERVIEWS — President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs have spared no nations, slammed several longtime allies, and sent global markets into a tailspin. They will likely carry national security implications as well. 

On Wednesday – what Trump called “Liberation Day” – the president announced tariffs ranging from a baseline 10% levee to a high of 54% for “worst offenders.” The Trump administration has touted tariffs as a way to restore U.S. manufacturing and correct trade imbalances, and it has also said that they may be used as tools to pressure other countries on separate priorities like immigration and drug trafficking. 

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