Trump’s tariffs hurt families and small businesses the most | Letter
Dayuan Li says tariffs must prioritise stability and fairness, not punish ordinary peopleThe US supreme court’s ruling last Friday striking down Donald Trump’s sweeping “liberation day” tariffs (Report, 20 February)...
By Guardian Staff · The Guardian Opinion
Dayuan Li says tariffs must prioritise stability and fairness, not punish ordinary people The US supreme court’s ruling last Friday striking down Donald Trump’s sweeping “liberation day” tariffs ( Report, 20 February ) is a welcome, if overdue, relief for the millions of working families and small businesses who have been footing the bill for this trade war. By raising the cost of everyday goods – from groceries to car parts – these tariffs hit those with the least the hardest, driving up the average US household’s costs by an estimated $1,000 in 2025 alone. The US president’s rapid move to pursue fresh tariffs under a different legal mechanism risks extending the very uncertainty the court sought to address. For the small shopkeeper in London or the family in the American midwest, volatility is not theoretical. It affects pricing, hiring and survival. Continue reading...