President Trump and the Tariffs Debate: The Week in Your Words

Newsweek

5 days ago

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Welcome back as we take another look at your comments of the week. It's been another eventful week, to say the least. One story, as with much of the year, continues to dominate headlines and divide opinion: President Donald Trump's tariffs. Whether you're applauding his hardline stance or questioning its long-term impact, the debate is loud, complex, and impossible to ignore.
Your comments of the week:
On the Warning of Food Prices Rising
Original Article: Food Prices Will Rise Under Trump, Group Warns
Background: U.S. tariffs could result in significantly higher prices for a range of food groups, according to an analysis published by the bipartisan Tax Foundation.
Original Comment: "The title should read: "Food Prices Will Continue To Rise Under Trump". Our grocery bill has been rising already and some items are in short supply or supply is erratic. We have to shop at stores owned by three different companies to get what we need/want and even then the grocery list has items unfilled. I see a trend that has already developed and not getting any better. One kind of goods that seems to be being affected are the ones supplied by smaller companies." - Won'tGetFooledAgain
What Makes the Comment Noteworthy: This comment captures a concern many readers echoed: that food inflation didn't begin with tariffs but may be deepening because of them. It offers a lived-in, detailed snapshot of how policy affects daily routines.
President Donald Trump signs an executive order restarting the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools, Thursday, July 31, 2025, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington.
President Donald Trump signs an executive order restarting the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools, Thursday, July 31, 2025, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
On Concerns About US Toymakers
Original Article: America's Toymakers are in Trouble
Background: America's biggest toymakers are facing down a grim financial reality, as economic headwinds and U.S. trade policy continue to squeeze margins and see higher costs being passed on to the consumer.
Original Comment: "Trump wants American businesses that import goods from the countries he's increasing tarrifs on, to either eat the cost out of their profits, or stop importing altogether, and build the products here.which costs more than importing them.
"The question Trump has posed with his altogether ill-advised tarriffs is this, Will American businesses give up their profits? One look at CEO salaries should provide the answer." - vinny_g.
What Makes the Comment Noteworthy: This commenter lays out a clear and provocative challenge to the economic assumptions behind the tariffs. It's a sharp critique of corporate behavior—and a question that strikes at the heart of the policy's goals.
On Latest Trade Deal with Japan
Original Article: Trump's 'Largest Deal Ever' Faces Japan Diet in Crisis
Background: Trump revealed that his administration had struck a "massive" trade and investment deal with Japan, which he described as "completed"—although it still has to pass the Japanese parliament, the Diet.
Original Comment: "US automakers aren't thrilled about the 15% tariff on Japanese imports. Canadian and Mexican imports are subject to 25% tariffs, but they use far more American-made parts than the vehicles coming from Japan.
"Executives of the "big three" have already stated that this low tariff will do nothing to gravitate buyers toward domestically produced vehicles." - Still Reply
What Makes the Comment Noteworthy: A popular opinion among readers—the commenter questions whether the tariff structure is achieving its intended effect. By comparing how different countries' vehicles are treated, they highlight the complexity of trade policy and its real-world impact on American industries.
On Effects of Proposed EU Trade Deal
Original Article: Trump Announces US-EU Trade Framework Before Tariff Deadline
Background: Trumpand European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reached a comprehensive trade framework following intensive negotiations at Trump's Turnberry golf course in Scotland.
Original Comment: "Tariffs can have a positive effect on a nation's economy. They can stimulate domestic industries, increase government revenue, and help manage a country's balance of trade; they are a tool in negotiations." - Whitey Ford
What Makes the Comment Noteworthy: The commenter offers a different outlook on tariffs—emphasizing their strategic value rather than their costs. By pointing to their potential to stimulate domestic growth and strengthen a nation's negotiating position, this view reflects a broader debate about whether tariffs are a blunt instrument or a necessary tool in global trade.
On New US Tariff Plan
Original Article: White House Reveals New Tariff Plan: What We Know
Background: Trump signed an executive order Thursday imposing tariffs from 10 percent to 41 percent on U.S. imports from dozens of countries and foreign economies.
Original Comment: "The narrative is entirely wrong. It's not Canada that faces 35% tariffs, it's Americans that face a 35% tax on Canadian imports." - Just Me
What Makes the Comment Noteworthy: The commenter raises a concern echoed by many others this week—that it's American consumers, not foreign exporters, who ultimately absorb the cost of rising tariffs. It's a straightforward but important reminder of how trade policy decisions ripple through the domestic economy.
Thank you for your continued conversations and debates. We look forward to highlighting more over the next few weeks.