Illustration · John Kim
Former President Trump declared a tariff war, vowing to “punish China.”
But the real targets were allies such as South Korea, Japan, and Europe.
High tariffs blocked allies’ exports and shook the production lines of global companies.
China took some hits, but in the chaos it appeared to come out ahead.
Tariffs are meant to be an economic weapon aimed at an adversary.
Yet this weapon hit friends first,
while the real rival quietly smiled.
