ICYMI: The Free Trader's Case for Trump's Reciprocal Tariffs

Today is Trump's much-heralded "Liberation Day". He may do more for free trade than all others before him.

NOTE: Today is Trump’s “Liberation Day”, the day on which his reciprocal tariff regime takes effect. It thus seems right that we republish this important Deep Dive on what the President is trying to accomplish and why it just might work.

He’s already scored one huge win: rather than face the new tariffs, Israel announced yesterday that it is dropping ALL tariffs on U.S. imports. Think of all the years of effort put into negotiating “free trade deals” that weren’t even really free. President Trump just pulled off a 100% free trade deal without having to negotiate at all.

UPDATE (11:30 am): Vietnam — which is absorbing much of the manufacturing capacity fleeing China — just announced a virtually identical elimination of tariffs on U.S. goods, AND Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he’ll eliminate his tariffs if Trump will (and blames China).

Additionally, it’s worth noting that, as with Trump’s one-off tariffs against Mexico and Canada — averted in February by their newfound willingness to sec…