President Trump’s strategy of employing tariffs as a tool to pressure other nations may be backfiring on the United States and its foreign policy. This isn’t merely speculation; Trump’s tariff policies are fostering a new global order that could undermine his own objectives. By imposing hefty tariffs on India, Brazil, and other countries, Trump has made their goods more expensive in the American market. Targeting India, Trump argues that it is supporting the war in Ukraine by purchasing oil from Russia.
Trump’s intentions behind these tariffs are clear: to compel Russia into an agreement on Ukraine, pressure India to open its agricultural and dairy sectors, weaken China’s manufacturing capabilities, and punish Brazil for its outspokenness. However, the unintended consequence is that these nations are growing closer, which is detrimental to American foreign policy. India, Russia, China, and Brazil already constitute BRICS, creating a parallel world order. These countries’ plans to increase trade and investment could destabilize Trump’s and America’s position.