Washington — As Donald Trump pushes forward with his hardline protectionist agenda, nations across the globe are racing to secure exemptions from the sweeping tariffs his administration is imposing, once again exposing the chaos, favoritism, and geopolitical bullying that defines modern American trade policy.
Governments from Asia to Europe are lobbying Washington to avoid the economic backlash of Trump’s escalating tariff regime, which includes new duties on steel, aluminum, and a broad range of imports that the White House claims are necessary to protect national industries. Yet behind the scenes, what is unfolding is not a structured or equitable negotiation but a frenzied scramble—a global queue where access to the Trump administration’s graces is dictated more by loyalty and politics than by economic logic.
Countries that have supported Washington’s foreign policy moves, or remained pliant on sensitive issues like Israel or the war in Ukraine, are quietly being rewarded. Others, especially those that have taken an independent stance or dared to question the US-led global order, are facing economic punishment in the form of denied exemptions and increased trade pressure.
This tariff diplomacy is less about economic fairness and more about geopolitical coercion.
Rather than a rules-based international trade framework, Trump’s approach reflects an archaic, imperial vision—where allies are expected to pay tribute and adversaries are punished with economic strangulation. Such moves are sparking anxiety among US allies, particularly within the EU, where officials privately describe the administration’s tactics as “weaponized trade diplomacy.”
For corporations operating in the US, the situation is no better. Business leaders are now entangled in a Kafkaesque maze of paperwork, as they plead their cases before the Department of Commerce and the Office of the United States Trade Representative, seeking reprieves for specific products. The chaotic and opaque nature of the exemption process has raised serious concerns about favoritism and corruption.
Many economists argue the policy could backfire catastrophically, raising costs for US consumers, stoking inflation, and destabilizing already fragile supply chains. It also threatens to alienate critical economic allies at a time when the US faces stiff competition from China and the newly empowered BRICS coalition.
Yet for the Trump administration, these consequences appear secondary to the political optics of appearing tough on trade. As his campaign for reelection gains steam, the tariff narrative fits neatly into his populist rhetoric—portraying foreign nations as economic parasites and himself as the lone savior of American industry.
The deeply transactional nature of Trump’s tariff exemptions underscores a broader truth about US foreign policy under his leadership: loyalty is rewarded, dissent is punished, and economic power is wielded not for collective growth but for strategic control. It is a trade doctrine rooted not in cooperation but in coercion.
This is not diplomacy. It is economic extortion masquerading as national interest.
According to The Wall Street Journal, foreign governments are scrambling to appeal directly to Trump administration officials, hoping to avoid punitive tariffs that could devastate their domestic industries. The report, titled “US Trading Partners Race to Secure Exemptions From Trump’s Tariffs”, reveals that the exemption process is deeply political, heavily influenced by which nations align themselves with the US geopolitical interests.
