Trump holds a signed copy of his book during a rally in 2021
On tariffs, Trump is an open book
There is method to the US president’s apparent madness, and those seeking to understand need look no further than their local bookshop
In an interview aired on Fox News in mid-March, US President Donald Trump declared to host Laura Ingraham that 2 April would be what he calls “Liberation Day”, the day on which he was scheduled to impose reciprocal tariffs on many of America’s trading partners, saying: “We have been ripped off by every country in the world, friend and foe.” Trump’s plan involves imposing tariffs on goods imported into the US that are equal to those imposed by the originating countries on US exports. Coming in addition to a variety of new tariffs imposed on major trading partners such as China, Canada and Mexico—along with general tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium—the reciprocal tariffs make up a majo
Also in this section
28 April 2026
Oil traders warning of $200/bl oil are wrong, and the market should be wary of proclamations that the impact of the oil shortage has only begun to be felt and a that a ‘harsh adjustment’ is coming—even for industrialised nations
28 April 2026
Restoring supply from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Iraq involves complexities far beyond simply adjusting operational controls
28 April 2026
Datacentres will guzzle power at a ferocious rate, but the impact on wider energy markets will be far more complex than previously thought
28 April 2026
The key energy player faces balancing regional routes, political complexities, and creating a clear strategic vision for energy security
