Trump’s Tariff Plan Could Work If It Weren’t So Broad
A blanket, untargeted set of trade sanctions that hits our allies was never going to succeed.
Which way is Howard Lutnick going to go?
Photographer: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Getty Images
Howard Lutnick, President Donald Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, is going to have one of the new administration’s most difficult cabinet positions, given Trump’s promises for his second term. While Lutnick has proven himself to be charismatic and resilient throughout his career, rising to the top of one of the country’s most prestigious financial firms, he will be hard-pressed to implement Trump’s tariff agenda without shipwrecking the American economy.
Lutnick will advise Trump on enforcing trade agreements, regulating exports and overseeing intellectual property rights — all geared toward restoring economic prosperity and putting the American people first. In many respects, Lutnick is perfect for the job: He strongly supports deregulation as a catalyst for innovation and economic growth; he understands the need to unleash American energy from climate alarmists; he embraces the Department of Government Efficiency’s mission to reduce the size and scope of the federal bureaucracy; and he clearly recognizes the threat China poses to the US.