This story appeared in The Logoffa daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news rule your life. Register here.
Welcome to The Logoff: Donald Trump is still trying to implement his tax agenda.
Wait, didn’t the Supreme Court reject that? Yes – this is the Trump administration’s third attempt at imposing global tariffs, this time using a narrower provision on unfair trade practices.
The Supreme Court ruled in February that Trump’s “emergency” tax administration was illegal. And last month, a different court too beaten down Trump’s first attempt to roll back taxes using a different — and temporary — authority.
What is Trump trying to do this time? Earlier this year, the administration began investigating whether U.S. trading partners such as Mexico, Canada, and the European Union import goods made with forced labor in their own businesses. It has now concluded that 59 countries, including the EU, are doing so – and therefore wants to impose tariffs of between 10 and 12.5 percent on those countries.
Under the administration’s current plan, the tax would go into effect next month. Certain products, such as beef, coffee, and essential minerals, will be exempted from tariffs, according to the New York Times.
What is the context? Forced labor is, obviously, brutal; preventing it is a worthwhile goal. That being said, there’s no real reason to believe this Trump administration effort comes from good faith — the EU, for example, already has new labor restrictions to come into force. at the end of next yearbut it still faces new taxes. The United States is not there either protection against issues of forced labor importationdespite the laws intended to prevent them.
What else should I know? Even as Trump tries to impose new tariffs, so does his administration fight to hold on some of the $166 billion in revenue that it illegally obtained from its first round of taxes.
And so, it’s time to leave…
Hello readers, it’s time for the NBA Finals! If you’re just listening, my colleague Benjy Sarlin has the details for you here (it’s a giveaway link). And if you’re trying to decide which team to root for, New York magazine has a bandwagoner’s guide to the Knicks. here. (I’m forced – the underdog is always happy.)
Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you back here tomorrow!
