The incredible irony of Trump demanding praise for his new trade ‘deals’

President Donald Trump’s trade strategy since his return to office has mostly focused on inadequately addressing problems he created. Recently, he has boasted about historic deals that, upon closer examination, do not even reverse the damage he initially caused. With a growing number of these partial agreements accumulating, American consumers and manufacturers have little to show for it, and the major deals he promised are nowhere in sight. It will become increasingly difficult for his administration to overlook the mess he has created.

The most recent development was a temporary ceasefire in the trade war between the U.S. and China, which Trump initiated shortly after resuming office. Negotiations in Geneva over the weekend led to a reduction in tariffs on each other’s products, but significant uncertainty and disruptions remain for U.S. companies. A similar situation occurred with the supposed trade agreement with Britain, where despite the fanfare, the deal was not yet finalized and did not meet the expectations set by Trump.

Trump’s tariff policies have strained relationships with key allies and failed to deliver the intended benefits to American companies. Despite attempts to address the issues caused by the tariffs, the efforts remain insufficient as long as Trump continues to believe that tariffs will ultimately benefit the U.S. economy.

The ongoing trade disputes have not improved America’s economic position or convinced skeptical Americans of the benefits of Trump’s economic plans. Trump’s insistence on tariffs as a solution to economic challenges has not yielded the desired results. As Trump expects praise for his dealmaking skills, the repercussions of his actions continue to impact the U.S. economy and consumers negatively.