The Self-Destructive Trade War: How Trump's Tariff Tactics Are Backfiring On America

Trump’s Tariff Tantrum: A Blunder That’s Hurting America More Than Its Rivals

There is a saying in Odisha – *“Chāṣa taratara, baṇija maṭha”* – translation: “Farm swiftly, trade wisely. which means agriculture should be done quickly and with agility, but business should be undertaken thoughtfully and with planning. In farming, you are bound to follow the seasons and act in sync with time, but in business, there’s no such compulsion. A wrong decision in agriculture may cause losses for just one season, but in business, a wrong decision can lead to lifetime damage. That’s why wise people have always advised quick decision-making in farming but careful and well-thought-out decisions in trade and commerce.

Perhaps U.S. President Donald Trump was unaware of this timeless wisdom—otherwise, he might not have repeatedly made impulsive decisions like slapping tariffs on imports, ultimately to his own nation’s detriment. The United States is the largest economy in the world, and global trade is largely conducted in its currency. As a massive consumer nation, America is heavily dependent on imports from small, medium, and even other large nations. For such a major importing nation, arbitrarily attacking others with tariffs may turn out to be self-destructive in the long run.

This type of “tit for tat” policy may cause ripples in other countries, but the United States will suffer most from its long-term consequences.

let me share a story,

Once in a village, a large store opened near a small shop. The big shopkeeper wanted to slowly take over the small one’s business, so he put up a board outside his store saying: “Mustard oil – ₹100 per liter.” What would the small shopkeeper do? He also put up a board: “Mustard oil – ₹90 per liter.” The big shopkeeper, angered, lowered his price to ₹80. The small shopkeeper then wrote ₹70. The big one dropped it to ₹60, and the small one replied with ₹50.

One day, a customer advised the small shopkeeper, “Why are you competing with him? He can bear the loss, but you can’t.” The small shopkeeper smiled and said, “Sir, he doesn’t know that he’s already lost lakhs of rupees, but I haven’t lost even a single penny.” When the customer asked, “How so?” he laughed and replied, “I don’t even keep mustard oil in my shop. It’s just a board hanging outside, and he keeps reducing prices, incurring losses all by himself.”

President Trump is making such hasty decisions purely out of stubbornness, without realizing that America, being a giant consumer nation, imports cheap products from China, India, Singapore, Japan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and other small to large countries to sell them at affordable prices. Due to the high labor and production costs in the U.S., domestically made products cannot compete with those imported from other countries. Hence, it’s the American people who will suffer from the inflated prices caused by this trade war.

In trade, the “tit for tat” policy doesn’t work. It feels more like the ramblings of a madman. The effects of this approach are now visible in American society and markets, and that’s why he is facing severe backlash from all sides. That is why he has now postponed the tariff implementation by three months while still boasting, “Wait and see how the world’s nations scramble to lick my boots.”

Regardless of the bragging and tough talk, the truth remains that America cannot survive without imports from other nations.

Now let me share another story circulating on social media:

Once, a U.S. Senator called his wife and said, “Today I’m bringing two Republican friends to home, so before I arrive, remove everything from our house that’s made in China, Bangladesh, India, or Vietnam. They’ll be pleased to see that.”

When the husband returned at night with his two friends, he saw that the house had no doors, no windows, no dining table, no chairs. The kitchen had no fridge, no microwave, no mixer. It was sweltering, with no AC, and not even a curtain in sight.

The Republican guests were extremely happy upon seeing all this, but they were happiest when they saw the senator’s wife – because she wasn’t even wearing a piece of clothing.

That’s the absurd truth of an import-free America.

In today’s interconnected world, trade is not a battlefield—it is a bridge. True leadership lies not in imposing power, but in fostering partnerships. Trade thrives not on threats, but on trust, timing, and tact. Like the wisdom in the old Odia saying— “Chāṣa taratara, baṇija maṭha”—we must act swiftly when the moment demands it, and tread carefully when the stakes are high. The future of global prosperity depends on collaboration, not confrontation. It’s time world leaders treated trade not as a zero-sum game, but as a shared journey toward mutual growth and stability.

Original writer: Shyamsunder Agrawalla

Translated by- Sangram Raya (The Eastern Times)

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