Should we gild the cornices?

Last weekend, US President Donald Trump, from his private golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, was deliberating over the phone about what to do with the tariffs announced on “Liberation Day.” Should he impose these, or give the world—and especially reluctant contractors—a few more weeks to think it over?

- Andrzej Lubowski

The White House reminded, not for the first time, that the waiting rooms were crowded with eager parties, and the president had “clearly stated: The United States, the largest and best consumer market in the world, holds all the trumps and leverage in negotiations to unilaterally make deals with appropriate tariff rates for our trading partners.”

So it’s understandable that the president is a bit irritated—things are dragging on, since it’s been over three months since “Liberation Day.” Trump's riding high after signing the “One Big Beautiful Act” and bombing Iran, so a trade success would be the cherry on top. Unfortunately, the cherry will have to wait a bit longer.