Tariffs: The Economic Reset America Needs
For years, the U.S. has been playing a game where the rules weren’t in our favor. We’ve allowed foreign products, especially from China, to flood our markets, while China has done everything possible to keep American goods out. It’s not because people in China don’t want our products, it’s because their government won’t allow them. China is a communist-controlled economy, and they play by a different set of rules that don’t include fair trade.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has operated as a completely open market, letting Chinese goods in without question. That’s how we’ve ended up with a massive trade deficit—$779.8 billion in 2023 alone. And that’s exactly why tariffs make sense. If China isn’t letting American businesses compete in their market, why should we keep giving them a free pass here?
Tariffs Are Painful at First
Tariffs won’t be painless. Right now, everything is manufactured in China, and the reason is simple: cost. Chinese companies don’t operate the way American businesses do. If they produce something for $1, they’ll sell it for $1.50. In the U.S., that same product might be marked up to $100. That’s why companies like Amazon have been able to dominate, because for decades, the U.S. government did nothing about how massive corporations were able to control manufacturing, pricing, and supply chains.
Small businesses can’t compete in that kind of environment. The cost to enter the market is too high, and the existing players are too powerful. Tariffs change that. By making it more expensive to import from China, the government is finally forcing businesses to manufacture in America again.
Yes, prices will be higher at first. But over time, as more products get made in the U.S., competition will bring prices down. This is how we regain control of our economy, by creating jobs, investing in American factories, and making it possible for new businesses to thrive.
Trump’s No Income Tax Plan: The Key to More Small Businesses
One of the most game-changing policies Trump has suggested? No federal income tax for anyone making under $150,000. That would be huge. Right now, it’s nearly impossible for new businesses to take off because everything is stacked against them.
If this tax policy happens, we’ll see a wave of entrepreneurship like never before. People won’t be forced to rely on giant corporations for jobs. Instead, they’ll actually have the capital to start their own businesses. Right now, the biggest reason small businesses fail is lack of funding. But if people could keep more of their own money, they’d be able to invest in themselves.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick even suggested that tariffs could replace income taxes altogether. Imagine an economy where we don’t even need the IRS because tariffs generate enough revenue to fund the government. That’s the kind of big-picture thinking America needs.
Tariffs as a Power Move
Tariffs aren’t just about fixing trade imbalances. They’re also a negotiation tool. For too long, the U.S. has been paying tariffs while letting other countries get away with unfair policies. Take Europe, for example. The EU put a 50% tariff on American whiskey. The U.S. didn’t respond, until now.
Trump is hitting back with a 200% tariff on European alcohol. That’s a power move. Now, the EU has to make a choice: either they drop their whiskey tariff, or they lose millions in alcohol sales to the U.S. That’s how you negotiate. You don’t just sit back and take the hit.
For too long, America has been the nice guy in global trade, while other countries have taken advantage. That era is over.
Why This Matters
Tariffs aren’t about making imports more expensive. They’re about fixing a system that’s been broken for decades. They’re about making sure American businesses have a fair shot. They’re about protecting our economy from being dependent on countries that don’t play fair.
The U.S. can’t afford to continue operating in a system where China controls manufacturing, corporations dominate domestic markets, and foreign governments tax American products without consequences.
Yeah, it’s going to be tough in the beginning. But what’s the alternative? Staying on the same path where small businesses can’t survive, entrepreneurs have no path forward, and America remains dependent on countries that don’t reciprocate its economic openness?
If America wants to be a strong, independent economy again, tariffs are the way forward. They level the playing field, bring back competition, and put power back in the hands of the American people.
When Did Putting America First Become “Anti-Human?”
Here’s what I don’t understand: Since when did defending America’s economy become a bad thing? Since when did wanting America to be strong and prioritizing American workers become something to apologize for?
Because right now, that’s exactly what Democrats are pushing. They act like if the U.S. makes a move that doesn’t directly benefit other countries, it’s somehow selfish or wrong. But let’s flip the question: When has China, the EU, or any other country made decisions based on what’s good for America? They haven’t, and they never will.
Yet when America finally fights for itself, suddenly it’s a problem. Suddenly, putting our economy, our jobs, and our businesses first is “anti-human.” That’s ridiculous. No country in the world operates with that mindset except the U.S., and that’s exactly why we’ve been taken advantage of for so long.
The reality is, America should come first. Just like every other country puts itself first. That’s not greed. That’s just common sense.