The Incoherence of the Trump Tariff Announcements

A staggering 749 instances of US tariff announcements by President Trump have been meticulously catalogued by researchers at Brown University, showcasing a policy that is far from coherent. The Global Linkages Lab, led by Şebnem Kalemli-Özcan, Can Soylu, and Muhammed A. Yildirim, has meticulously tracked every instance where the President referenced a tariff in speeches, interviews, press conferences, executive orders, and even on social media and official statements.

The dataset, dubbed TiRADE – Tariff Rates in Announcements, Declarations, and Events - spans from January 21, 2025 to the present and includes 341 separate tariff changes.

The visual representation of this data reveals a troubling pattern. Blue dots on the map denote threatened or announced tariffs, while green dots signify tariffs that have been implemented. This stark contrast highlights the uncertainty and instability that permeates Trump's tariff policy. The researchers, although not necessarily advocating for broad tariff increases, highlight the erratic nature of this approach.

While they would need to carefully consider the implications of targeted tariff adjustments on a case-by-case basis, the sheer volume and inconsistency of Trump's tariff announcements make it clear that no coherent plan has been in place since early 2025. The erratic and ad hoc nature of these tariffs undermines any potential strategic coherence and suggests a policy that is driven by impulse rather than thoughtful deliberation.