On April 2, US President Donald Trump announced import tariffs – many above 40 percent, on goods from virtually every country – upending the global economy. Although now paused above a baseline 10 percent, except for China, these new tariffs illustrate the danger of pursuing economic reforms without regard for the impact on people’s human rights, say Human Rights Watch’s Sarah Saadoun and Sylvain Aubry.
The promise to reshape the economy, which was central to Trump’s reelection campaign, tapped into a pervasive sense among many US voters that they were suffering financially because wages have not kept up with rising prices. Economies should be transformed to ensure everyone can enjoy their rights to food, housing, health care, education, social security, and other economic, social and cultural rights: But Trump’s approach gives no evident consideration to these or any rights.
These new tariffs are so broad and arbitrary that many economists expect them to be inflationary, hurting those with the least means. Yet not only is there no apparent plan to alleviate the immediate negative impact on people, the tariffs are also combined with policies already making things harder for many.
The administration has slashed billions in spending and fired thousands of public employees, many of whom are Black, gutting programs vital for health care, education, and other rights. Meanwhile, the administration weakened anti-corruption rules and is pushing through tax cuts for the wealthiest, while rescinding rules that increased workers’ pay.
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