The new administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has moved quickly to disrupt — and in some cases dismantle — the normal functioning of the U.S. government. Many governance mechanisms are being undermined and critical civil service personnel are being fired. Indeed the very notions of the rule of law and constitutional separation of powers are under assault in Washington. We are witnessing the U.S. become autocratic.

No one should be surprised. As a candidate, Trump promised to be a “dictator” on Day 1. Trump’s endgame is unclear, and whether he succeeds at his authoritarian takeover is still uncertain, but the U.S. has finally crossed the Rubicon it began fording on Jan. 6, 2021. The political character of the U.S. is now fundamentally changed. U.S. allies and partners should recognize this dynamic, as, like all states, U.S. foreign policy is greatly determined by its domestic political foundation.

What is the Trump administration doing? Why? And how will these actions affect other countries?

The Trump administration’s blitzkrieg of improper tariff imposition, legally dubious executive orders, malfeasant personnel decisions and flat-out constitutional violations in seizing executive power covers a large range of activities. To begin with tariffs, Trump’s imposition of near-universal import tariffs against China, Canada and Mexico (with the latter two tariffs temporarily suspended) was authorized using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). This statute has........

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