Chris Stigall: Trump's Tariff Strategy

Thursday, November 13, 2025

President Trump’s tariff strategy is not merely an economic and trade whim; it is a crucial and lawful defense against existential threats that require presidential action. In a world where adversaries use trade to undermine America's security, the commander-in-chief must possess the authority to declare emergencies and implement tariffs as strategic measures for national survival. 

Critics argue this is overreach, but both the Constitution and Congress empower him to act decisively, as statutes like Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act layout.

Consider the stakes: Annually, trade deficits exceed $1 trillion, particularly with China. These are not just benign figures; they represent “unusual and extraordinary” vulnerabilities that weaken U.S. manufacturing, compromise military readiness, and contribute to the fentanyl crisis, which claims over 100,000 American lives each year. 

We face existential emergencies. Tariffs are needed to save and secure the republic.

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