Wiesemeyer: ‘Etch-A-Sketch’ Trade Policy Sparks Market Volatility

Trade experts argue the Trump tariffs may violate Chapter 98 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, which could undermine free trade principles. “They charge that Trump may not be on legal ground to actually have these tariffs to begin with,” said Pro-Farmer analyst Jim Wiesemeyer. The administration, however, claims the tariffs are allowed under Article 32.2 of USMCA for national security reasons. Wiesemeyer criticized the administration’s shifting trade policies, calling them unpredictable. “This is an etch-a-sketch approach to trade policy,” he said. “I’m writing special reports every other hour almost now because it’s not a well-thought-out strategy to me. They need to get their act together. What are they doing?” He pointed to inconsistent messaging, noting that one day the White House ruled out exemptions, only to grant them the next. “No wonder the market is so volatile right now because it’s trading one headline to another.”