President Donald Trump has reacted with predictable bluster and defiance against the US Court of International Trade’s ruling on Wednesday. The judges struck down the sweeping April 2 reciprocal tariffs slapped on Washington’s major trading partners, as well as the “trafficking tariffs” imposed on China, Canada and Mexico, to curb the flow of fentanyl opioids. The temporary stay on the “liberation day” levies granted subsequently by a US Court of Appeal for the Federal Circuit has apparently emboldened him further. President Trump swiftly announced a doubling of the tariffs that were slapped in March on steel and aluminium imports to 50 per cent with effect from Wednesday.

The trade court called his........

© Free Press Journal