How Harris and Trump agree—and disagree—on tariffs

Enjoying this newsletter? Explore other insights to get in your inbox, from the latest on national security and defense to major developments in global regions.

If you set aside the cat-and-dog talk, one of the policy areas that got some deserved attention in last week’s presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump was tariffs. There are meaningful differences between the two candidates on the issue, with Trump floating proposals to impose tariffs north of 60 percent on Chinese goods, in addition to a 10 percent tariff on most global imports. But there are also similarities, which might explain why Harris didn’t really answer ABC News moderator David Muir’s question about why the Biden administration kept in place Trump’s tariffs on China.?

“The primary reason for the U.S. turn to protectionism is the growing economic and military challenge from China,” Bob Davis writes in “How Washington Learned to Stop Worrying and Embrace Protectionism .” The turn also reflects a profound change in ideology, Davis writes, as the gains from trade “are no longer seen by many political leaders as worth the downsides in the loss of manufacturing jobs, dependence on imports from adversaries such as China and Russia, and political polarization.”

But a general mood of protectionism is rather different from a potential 60 percent tariff on Chinese goods. That’s because Trump’s plans might be “part of an explicit blueprint … to make the huge U.S.-China trade relationship wither away,” FP’s Keith Johnson writes in a report on how U.S. allies are bracing for what threatens to become an all-out tariff war.?

One ally that Washington has pulled much closer in recent years is Japan. Yet a Biden administration plan to reject a nearly $15 billion bid by a Japanese company, Nippon Steel, to acquire a struggling, old-line company, U.S. Steel, sends a different message. In “Why Blocking Nippon Steel’s Purchase of U.S. Steel Is a Mistake ,” FP columnist Howard W. French argues that the plan “makes a mockery of the notion of promoting a common economic front among allies.” A final decision on the takeover has been delayed amid backlash, but such posturing along nationalist lines is business as usual in campaign season, French writes. “Biden and Harris are not exactly shouting the Trump slogan, ‘America First,’ but by behaving in a way that declares ‘politics first,’ they are more or less saying the same thing.”—Amelia Lester, deputy editor

P.S. A note from our partners: From Nobel and Pulitzer laureates to international politicians and the world’s leading thinkers, IAI TV has you covered. Described as “Europe’s answer to TED” and “bringing Britain back to big thinking,” IAI features content from Fiona Hill, Paul Krugman, Rory Stewart, Alastair Campbell, David Petraeus, and more. Start your free trial today for full access to IAI’s collection of 3,000-plus articles and videos, as well as daily new releases—from the decline in democracy to the changing world order and everything in between.

New and Noteworthy

• Into Khamenei’s Hands: “Iran makes no secret of its commitment to seek Israel’s destruction. Its strategy is to keep it under constant pressure and consume it in ongoing conflicts on its borders. While that is plain to see, Israel’s current approach seems, ironically, to be playing into Iran’s hands ,” Dennis Ross writes.?
• Nitze’s Legacy: Paul Nitze came to be known as “an essential voice on defense and arms control policy” for his leadership during—and after—the Cold War, Theodore Bunzel writes. While his ideas resonate more than ever in this new era of competition with China and Russia, they should also serve as lessons to rein in military competition before it’s too late.?
• Who Belongs?: After losing her son in a rampage targeting immigrants, Serpil Temiz Unvar has become a voice against anti-immigrant ideology and violence in Germany, founding an educational initiative and pressuring the government. This feature is co-published with The Dial , a new magazine of international journalism and literature.

FP Live

NATO’s Future

On Demand

After a decade of serving as NATO’s secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg will step down in October. Tune in to an exit interview with FP’s Ravi Agrawal as they discuss the latest on Ukraine, NATO funding, his legacy, and the future of the world’s largest military alliance. Join FP to watch the on-demand conversation .?

H.R. McMaster on America’s Foreign-Policy Choices

On Demand

H.R. McMaster served as former President Donald Trump’s national security advisor for all of 13 months. In a new book, At War With Ourselves, he candidly describes his old boss’s foreign-policy foibles. But McMaster is also critical of the Biden administration, particularly how it has handled Afghanistan and Iran. McMaster joined FP Live to describe how he assesses global crises and what the White House needs to do to combat them. Join the FP network to unlock the on-demand conversation or edited transcript .

The China Challenge

On Demand

The United States has undergone a dramatic change in its China policy in the last decade. How does that play out in day-to-day diplomacy? Nicholas Burns has served as the U.S. ambassador to China since 2022. He joined FP Live to discuss the state of the U.S.-China relationship, encompassing trade, technology, Taiwan, and more. Join the FP network to unlock the on-demand conversation and edited transcript .

Join us at UNGA79

Global leaders will gather in New York City for the 79th United Nations General Assembly amid escalating challenges, including food and security crises, advanced technological threats, health emergencies, and green energy needs. Join FP @ UNGA79, where we will host discussions with a range of geopolitical experts on the innovation and collaborative solutions needed to address pressing global issues.?

RESERVE MY SPOT

Exercise Your Mind

Which foreign-policy topic was not discussed during the presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump last Tuesday?

A. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

B. Iran’s nuclear weapons program

C. The Israel-Hamas war

D. Competition with China

You can find the answer to this question and learn more at the end of this email.

Muster Global Majorities

By Mark Malloch-Brown, a former U.N. deputy secretary-general

In the new Fall 2024 magazine , we asked nine eminent foreign-policy thinkers to write nonpartisan letters of advice to the next White House—and to Americans. Read on for a preview of the issue, “Dear America,” and subscribe for full digital access, expert reports and analysis, and insights that truly matter to stay ahead of the U.S. elections.?

“Dear Madam or Mr. President,

The future of multilateralism might seem too diffuse as to hang on the outcome of one national election—yours—but for diplomats at the United Nations in New York and elsewhere, it does. In part, this is a well-worn cycle, of denigrating U.S. leadership as overreach when it is seen as on the up and being equally quick to condemn its departure as removing the essential anchor when it seems to be abdicating the world stage.

As you know, the United States has in truth been the mainstay of the modern multilateral system since its launch in 1945. Despite occasional threats of divorce—and on occasion actual disengagement from individual U.N. entities and nonpayment of dues—it has not deserted the system as it did the earlier League of Nations…”?

KEEP READING

More from the Fall Magazine

From Around FP

• Catch up with The Negotiators: When a diplomatic deal goes bad, the blame usually falls on the politicians. But in the wake of the return of the Taliban, a lot of people have blamed one man who was directly involved in negotiations: Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation. Listen to his story in the latest episode of The Negotiators on Apple , Spotify , or your preferred platform.
• From FP Analytics: FP Analytics (FPA) convenes leading minds in national security, international affairs, academia, and other sectors to game out solutions for the world’s biggest risks. In the past, FPA has hosted a range of public-facing and closed-door simulations at, and alongside, major global convenings such as the Munich Security Conference and the Paris Peace Forum, as well as on Capitol Hill. Explore FP’s Simulations and PeaceGames to learn more.
• On the Go: Foreign Policy is now on WhatsApp! Sign up for our WhatsApp Channel to get timely updates on geopolitical issues, wherever you go. To save stories for a later read, easily access newsletters and podcasts, and unlock more of FP at your fingertips, also download our mobile app today.?

Are you interested in learning more about FP Analytics’ cutting-edge research services, hosting an FP Virtual Dialogue event, or building a podcast with FP Studios??Explore partnership opportunities .

Answer: B. Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Trump touted the support he has received from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and criticized the Biden administration for how much it has spent defending Ukraine, FP’s Amy Mackinnon and Christina Lu report .