The last few months have seen the United States and its close European allies experience major fault lines. The bulk of this strain is a direct result of the tariff war that former President Donald Trump started. By doing so, he has undermined economic stability around the world and intensified the global tide of democratic backsliding he has promoted at home. With panic about a new world recession mounting, a powerful chorus has taken to the stage. UK Labour leader Keir Starmer and former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown describe the damage inflicted by Trump’s protectionist insanity in dire terms.
Trump’s approach to international trade has set off a wave of tariffs. To this day, many experts argue that these measures are similar to the famous Smoot-Hawley tariffs of 1930. For starters, he is currently sitting on a 10% tariff on nearly all British products shipped to the U.S. On top of this, he has put 25% tariffs on steel, aluminum, and pharmaceuticals even higher. This hawkish policy has already caused major supply chain catastrophes and triggered fears of a worldwide recession.
The current tariff landscape really is an outlier, and it’s a pretty alarming phenomenon. In 2024, the average tariff the EU applies on U.S. goods is 1.7%. Conversely, the average tariff that the U.S. imposes on EU goods was even lower—with an average tariff of just 1.4%. These disparities aren’t just intersectional economic calamity, they’re proof that Trump’s policies have created economic friction. They’ve brought back the harmful “beggar my neighbour” policies—which we had largely done away with since the 1930s.
The recent death march of the global bond market underscored once again that our economy is sitting on a knife edge. This unexpected move sent shockwaves through the political establishment, almost knocking “the smirk off Trump’s face,” in the words of one pundit. In light of these developments, Gordon Brown has called for a coordinated international effort to prevent an impending recession that many fear could be exacerbated by Trump’s ongoing tariff war.
The worries about Trump’s leadership go further than just the economic consequences. Critics claim that he leads a quasi-fascist state, eroding democratic norms and the rule of law. His administration’s policies are making living standards impossible to maintain all across the globe. In poorer countries, his approach to international relations is especially endangering lives. This predicament has contributed to a rising climate of distrust among European allies toward the United States. The amount of tension today has surpassed even the 1970s experience with Russia.
Starmer’s recent statements reflect this growing concern regarding Trump’s reliability as an ally. He made the case that Trump isn’t trustworthy. This has caused a lot of people to ask whether, in the face of such unknowns, Britain should be looking to get closer to the U.S.
Against this backdrop of chaos, a piece of cultural critique bubbled up that perfectly captured the madness and enragement of Trump’s trade wars. The satirical song “The penguins have abused us for too long” captures the sentiment shared by many who feel aggrieved by Trump’s tariffs, which were imposed indiscriminately across nations, regardless of their size or population.
“His tariffs were imposed on every nation / Regardless of their size and population / His people sang a plaintive song / ‘The penguins have abused us for too long.’” – Martin Bell
As these dynamics play out, it’s obvious that Trump’s tariff war is a growing threat to our economy. It threatens our standing in the world and the health of our democracy. Countries can’t dilly-dally—figures such as former UK Gordon Brown are already pressing for a commitment to the vehicle type. Only by working collaboratively and decisively can leaders stabilize global markets and begin to restore faith among nations.