Trump and his tariffs: What can we do?

The never-ending soap opera of Trump and his tariffs continues to engross the world, with nations around the world wary of provoking or alienating Trump while awaiting the next Trumpian dictum which could make or break their economies.

- BY VIJAYA KUMAR

Trump likes to keep the world in suspense as to what final rates he would decide on. We cannot even be sure whether the threatened tariffs would ever be implemented as they have been postponed time and again since the beginning of April. Trump's tariffs do take up some of the space in the local political scene with the government claiming the reduction from 44% (based on half the trade balance deficit) to 20% as a massive victory while the opposition is claiming that a lower rate could have been got if we had negotiated better or demeaned ourselves before Trump on bended knee with Ranil Wickremesinghe even suggesting that we appeal to Trump for mercy as we are stuck with the IMF programme.

What they don't seem to understand is that Trump as The Island editor once pointed out “is impervious to reasoning and acts whimsically.” Furthermore, Trump is a bully and according to psychiatrist Robert Lifton, a solipsist (self-centered or selfish) which is worse than being a narcissist. A solipsist makes no attempt at faking interest in other people as he cannot really see them from his self-centred position. Trump wants to bully other nations to fashion their economic, international and even domestic policies into what he believes is best for the United States, his own fortune and his political and business friends, home and abroad.

Every time you use Lanka Super or Havoline lubricants in your vehicle, travel or pick up food using Uber, book or let a room through Airbnb, buy a hotel room or air ticket through the internet, use Paypal or pay fees to an American college or even change Sri Lankan rupees into US dollars, you are contributing to the US economy but your payments are not reflected in the trade balance.

Negotiating Tariffs - Does it work?