Thomas Sowell Warns Against Trump Tariffs Amid Global Shakeup

At 94 years old, Thomas Sowell remains one of the most respected economists and conservative intellectuals of our time. So when he speaks, people listen especially those on the right who’ve looked to him as a guiding voice in defense of markets, liberty, and American strength.

That’s why his recent comments about President Trump’s sweeping tariff strategy raised eyebrows. During an interview aired just a day before Trump enacted his "Liberation Day" tariff plan a bold reciprocal trade offensive targeting dozens of nations Sowell warned that such a policy risks sparking a “worldwide trade war” with damaging consequences for global commerce.

Sowell compared Trump’s approach to the infamous Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of the 1930s, a move many economists blame for exacerbating the Great Depression. “Everybody loses,” Sowell said, “because everybody follows suit… and you get a great reduction in international trade.”

But here’s the problem: Sowell is treating today’s trade environment like it’s 1929. It’s not.

The truth is, we’re already in a trade war and we’ve been losing it for decades.

• The U.S. has run consistent trade deficits since the 1970s, hitting $951 billion in 2022 alone.

• China has used state-backed industries and currency manipulation to undercut American manufacturing, costing the U.S. an estimated 3.7 million jobs since 2001, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

• Countries from Europe to Asia impose high non-tariff barriers and value-added taxes that punish American exports all while enjoying virtually unrestricted access to U.S. markets.

Trump’s tariffs aren’t starting a war they’re a long-overdue counterstrike.

To his credit, Sowell acknowledged that if Trump’s plan is a “short-run ploy” to win concessions, it may have merit. But he expressed concern that a constantly shifting strategy could leave businesses uncertain, prompting them to hold back on investment.

That’s a fair point. But what Sowell didn’t address is the strategic purpose behind the chaos: forcing foreign powers to come to the negotiating table, and restoring American industrial dominance that’s been hollowed out by globalism.

Let’s not forget what’s already happening:

• Factories are reopening in key states like Michigan and Ohio.

• Domestic steel and aluminum production is rising as foreign competitors face actual consequences for undercutting U.S. suppliers.

• Trump has already secured new trade agreements with countries like Japan, South Korea, and Mexico that include stronger protections for U.S. workers.

Yes, the markets have shown short-term jitters. But short-term uncertainty is a small price to pay for rebuilding a stable, sovereign economic base that’s not held hostage by China, the WTO, or multinational corporations with zero loyalty to American workers.

Thomas Sowell is a titan of conservative thought and his warnings deserve consideration. But Trump isn’t repeating history. He’s correcting it. For the first time in a generation, the United States has a leader who’s willing to put American interests above Wall Street profits and foreign appeasement.

That may rattle economists and global elites but for American workers, it’s the best news in decades.

Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed on the issues that actually impact your freedom and your future.