Tariffs, Turbulence, and Trump: The Economist’s Discourse on The US Trade War

The major goal of this paper is to analyze how and explain why the Economist discursively constructs the U.S. tariff war initiated by the Trump administration in early 2025. Applying Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to commentaries published between February and March 2025, it identifies key factors for the conflict: erratic decision-making, rejection of multilateral trade norms, and the use of tariffs for non-trade objectives. These drivers expose a shift from predictable, rules-based cooperation toward ad hoc, unilateral measures that heighten global uncertainty. The study finds that such policies generate significant economic effects, including market volatility, supply chain disruption, inflationary pressures, and weakened investor confidence. Politically, they erode trust in trade agreements, increase retaliation risks, and strain relations with allies and rivals. Structurally, they undermine global trade institutions and recall the protectionist failures of the 1930s. By refraining from explicit prescriptions, the Economist positions itself as a critical observer, framing the tariff war as a politically driven departure from stable, cooperative trade policy.