Trump’s tariffs could trigger a trade war

It is hard to imagine a US President being unaware of the serious ramifications a major tariff move might have on the world economy, but President Donald Trump seems to have made an off–the–cuff decision to slap tariffs on two major commodities—steel and aluminium. The global economy, which has just been inching its way out of the doldrums, will definitely not escape getting grazed in the expected trade crossfire.

Trump on Thursday ordered the imposition of a 25-percent tariff on steel and a 10-percent tariff on aluminium, as part of his “America First” policy, aimed at cementing his hold on America’s working-class voters.