The Cost of Conflict: White House and Human Rights

Civitas Outlook editor-in-chief Richard Reinsch and Veronique de Rugy discuss Veronique's analysis of Trump's tariff policies in her recent article "Tariffs, Trade Wars, and the Coming Storm."

De Rugy argues that, despite claims of victory by protectionists, the current state of economic calm is deceptive and long-term damage will be significant. She recalls that Trump's Liberation Day proposal caused market panic, forcing him to pause and reduce rates through deals. De Rugy emphasizes that tariffs are taxes paid by Americans, not foreigners, and warns that transactional trade policy threatens rules-based governance and invites cronyism that could damage America's long-term economic health.

Veronique de Rugy is George Gibbs Chair in Political Economy and Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University and a nationally syndicated columnist.