“What Can We Expect From the Administration’s U.S. Tariff Policies?”

Jim will discuss the economics of tariffs and tariff policies. He will describe
how tariff taxes work, who pays the taxes, and how the tax-costs filter

through the economy. He will describe the effects of tariffs on the econo-
mies of the countries that charge the tariff and the countries on which the

tariff is charged. Along the way, he will explore why economists do not like
tariffs and why politicians do like them.
Steve will discuss the administration’s tariff policies and their potential

effects on international trade and trade relations with its allies and adver-
saries. He will explore the complexities of measuring imports, especially

with respect to intermediate goods, and the difficulty of forecasting re-
sponses, and perhaps retaliation, by U.S. trading partners.

Steve spent his career as an international trade lawyer in more than fifty

countries. He worked in private law practice, US Government, and for in-
ternational organizations such as USAID, World Bank and United Nations.

Steve and his partner Kathleen Hughes live in Magnolia North.
Jim is a U.S. Navy veteran and a retired economist, who spent most of his
career doing economic research for the Navy as a defense contractor.
Since retiring, he has pursued his interest in U.S. economic history and
economic policy. Jim and his wife Helena live in Potomac Ridge.