Columbia was the first victim of Trump’s tariff plan. Now, Canada, Mexico, and China are bracing for the impact of the 47th president’s economic policies. With a 25% additional tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on goods from China, the ripple effects of these decisions are being felt far beyond U.S. borders.
For Sung Wo, an international student from South Korea with deep ties to mainland China, the trade war isn’t just a distant political issue; it’s personal. As tensions escalate, he’s made it a priority to stay informed, not just for himself but for the people he cares about back in China.
“Every new tariff headline hits close to home, Sung Wo said. With strong ties to China, watching this trade war unfold feels like seeing my second family caught in the crossfire. It’s not just economics, lives are at stake.”
You mentioned before that you have ties to China. Who are the people you are looking out for and do you think there is anything you can do about the current situation?
“The people I’m thinking about are the ones I’ve built relationships with over the years, Sung Wo said. Friends, colleagues, and people in the community who’ve always been kind and welcoming. I can’t fix the trade war, but I can stay in touch, listen to what they’re going through, and help where I can. It’s not much, but at least they know someone’s paying attention and cares.”
Not only is the impact of Donald Trump’s tariff noticeable in the larger parts of the world and Asia, but it has also reached other countries that don’t necessarily will be affected by Trump’s new tariff plans such as Japan.
Rintaro Taniguchi, a former international student at SUNY Cortland from two years back is now back living in Japan and has been following the latest update about the tariffs placed on the Asian countries by President Donald Trump.
“Watching these tariffs from Japan, it feels like I’m seeing a wall being built between countries that should be working together,” Rintaro Taniguchi said. “It’s not just about trade deals, it’s about the connections between people, the friendships, and the shared dreams that get caught in the middle. It hurts to see something so big and out of my control threaten the bonds between our borders.”
For individuals like Sung Wo and Rintaro Taniguchi, the tariff issue might be too large and complex to solve as the order isn’t issued by their respective countries. But how come Trump decided to place these tariffs so early into his term?
According to Whitehouse.gov, Trump’s early tariffs were part of his campaign promise to protect U.S. industries and renegotiate trade deals. By acting quickly, he aimed to pressure other countries into terms favoring American interests. This aggressive approach has sparked global debate and economic uncertainty all over the world.