US President Donald Trump thinks that the main problem in the US economy is the persistent deficit in foreign trade. His preferred tool is tariffs. He is using tariffs and the threat of more tariffs to impose commercial deals on friends and foes to bring down imports and increase exports. Has it worked?

US President Trump is using tariffs and the threat of more tariffs to push for favourable trade deals with friends and foes. His stated goals are to reduce the US trade deficit, raise revenue for the Treasury to reduce the persistent government budget deficit, and force private companies to move production to the US. But is there any logic to what he is doing? Or is he just a madman romping around like a bull in a china shop?

The US president Donald Trump has steam-rolled friends and foes alike with tariffs and threats of more tariffs if they don’t accept a deal on terms dictated by the US. Some, as the EU, have capitulated without a fight, making themselves the laughingstock of the world. But other countries are resisting these bullying tactics. To the Trump team’s surprise, one of these is India.