Another week, another wild ride. Here’s what happened:
Tariffs and Trade Policy
Donald Trump has officially imposed 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, as well as a blanket 10% tariff on all goods imported from China. Last week, I explained why tariffs would make everyday goods—from vegetables and cars to iPhones and Shein outfits—more expensive. While the actual effects of these tariffs remain to be seen, the basic idea behind them is to incentivize American production of goods by making foreign imports more costly.
Robert Lighthizer, Trump’s former trade advisor, has long advocated for “balanced trade,” an approach aimed at reducing the US trade deficit by decoupling from China. The trade deficit people refer to occurs when a country imports more than it exports. Many conservatives argue that closing this gap will improve the economy. However, economic data show that top-performing economies can thrive regardless of whether they have a trade deficit or surplus. There is no strong correlation between a country’s trade deficit and its overall economic performance, meaning a shrunken US trade deficit does not guarantee economic growth.
The USMCA and Trump’s Strategy
The trade relationship between the US and China has been complicated for years, with tariffs existing well before Trump’s current iteration of them. For instance, China imposed a 26% tariff on US corn in 2018—long before Trump’s recent policy changes. Trump’s first administration negotiated the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to replace NAFTA, aiming to create fairer trade conditions for small-to-medium-sized businesses and workers. The USMCA lowered cross-border transaction costs, reduced customs duties, and enhanced intellectual property protections.
So why would Trump disrupt his own agreement? Because he wants something else.
Tariffs as a Negotiation Tool
Mexico, Canada, and China are the US’s largest trading partners, but Mexico and Canada rely far more on the US than vice versa. The US receives 77% of Canada’s exports and 79% of Mexico’s exports. Trump is leveraging this dependence to achieve a different goal: increased border security.
This plan worked on Canada, who has agreed to “implement our $1.3 billion border plan — reinforcing the border … with our American partners, and increasing resources to stop the flow of fentanyl.” Read Trudeau’s full message here.
The US has more negotiating power than any other country in the Americas, and Trump understands how to wield it. His administration is simultaneously applying tariffs on Mexico and Canada while engaging with Venezuela and El Salvador on policies related to immigration and border control.
Negotiations: Hostages and Foreign Affairs
Like it or not, Trump has been effective in international negotiations. Earlier this week, six Americans were freed from detainment in Venezuela after US representatives met with dictator Nicolás Maduro. One of the released hostages, David Estrella, had been detained since September 2024. He was accused of collaborating with the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to destabilize the Venezuelan government. His family has denied this allegation. An emotional website published by his family details his story. Ric Grenell, a Trump advisor and special ambassador, was the lead negotiator and played a pivotal role in securing the release of Estrella and five other American hostages.
Authoritarian regimes like Venezuela’s often drive citizens to flee, contributing to the surge of Venezuelan migrants illegally crossing into the US in recent years. Trump has taken a firm stance on immigration, emphasizing strong border security and enforcement. This week’s hostage release suggests that the Trump administration may be working to weaken Maduro’s influence ahead of potential sanctions. Trump seems to believe that addressing one of the root causes of migration—instability and repression in home countries—could be a strategic way to curb illegal crossings.
Journalism and the New White House Press Team
It’s easy for college students to overlook the complexity of these issues when mainstream media often reduces them to soundbites and viral clips. This is why journalistic integrity is so important, and why the new White House press team will play a critical role in shaping media narratives.
Karoline Leavitt, the newly appointed White House Press Secretary, leads a team that many online communities have referred to as “the Blonde Squad,” a trio of young, high-ranking (and blonde!) women responsible for communicating the administration’s agenda. Leavitt, along with Kieghan Nangle (Executive Assistant to the Press Secretary) and Sonny Joy Nelson (Media Affairs Director), is bringing a fresh approach to White House media relations.
During her first press conference, Leavitt announced that the briefing room would be open to non-traditional media, including podcasters, Substack authors, and influencers with significant followings. At 27, she is the youngest White House Press Secretary in history. After graduating from Saint Anselm College, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning the Republican primary but losing to incumbent Chris Pappas. She later became a key spokesperson for the Trump-Vance campaign.
The Future of Journalism and Politics
Many successful journalists have come from UVA, including Margaret Brennan (moderator of Face the Nation on CBS), Katie Couric (former Today Show host), and Professor Mary Kate Cary (former White House speechwriter and free speech advocate). With Leavitt’s openness to alternative media, young journalists may have new pathways into high-level political reporting.
I truly believe we’re entering a new wave of journalistic reporting. It’s more accessible than ever for students like you and me to be in the White House briefing room. A UVA education is a great and good way to start a career in journalism. It might be worth considering…
As for the economy, only time will tell if Trump’s tariffs achieve their intended goals, whatever they may be. It’s worth noting that 89% of Trump voters believed the economy was in poor condition leading up to the 2024 election. Whether these trade and border policies will improve economic conditions or lead to unintended consequences remains to be seen.
The opinions expressed within this piece represent the views of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Jefferson Independent.
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