Garut PR- In a surprise maneuver that sent waves of anxiety across the world of trade and diplomacy, President Donald Trump announced he would impose 50 percent tariffs without exceptions on countries that supply military weapons to Iran, just hours after agreeing to a two-week ceasefire with Tehran.
The announcement was made via Truth Social Wednesday evening. Trump wrote emphatically:
“Countries that supply military weapons to Iran will be subject to 50% tariffs immediately, on all goods sold to the United States. No exceptions!”
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But this move raises a big question: can Trump actually carry it out? The Supreme Court had previously struck down the use of the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose global tariffs, which had forced the return of about $166 billion to importers.
Analysts consider this threat to be more symbolic than practical. Rachel Ziemba of the Center for a New American Security said:
“Once IEEPA is rescinded, there is no fast track to enacting those tariffs. The U.S. government would need Congressional action or would have to leverage other trade instruments, and currently there are no trade tools that focus on national security.”
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China and Russia, which are known to help Iran build military capacity, were not specifically mentioned by Trump, but reports suggest deliveries of missiles and strategic technology. In fact, China is said to have sent chip-making equipment to the Iranian military, sparking fears of a new escalation on the global stage.
Josh Lipsky of the Atlantic Council assesses that this threat is unlikely to be executed before Trump’s meeting with President Xi Jinping in mid-May. “This is a China-related threat, and Beijing will definitely respond accordingly,” he said.
Apart from China, Russia is also in the spotlight. Although US imports from Russia have declined since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some strategic commodities such as palladium and uranium have increased, prompting America to consider anti-dumping tariffs.
With tariff threats, diplomatic calculations and global market movements, Trump is once again demonstrating a controversial and unpredictable presidential style where words on social media can shake up the world economy and politics in an instant.***
