Question for Idaho’s politicians: How will we know if Trump’s tariffs work? | Opinion

Tariffs

Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs have unleashed a tsunami of criticism as well as support. This has left citizens drowning in confusion. I urge Idahoans to contact their congressional representatives and demand they answer this basic question: How will we know that Trump’s tariffs are working and when will we know it?

Our senators and representatives must leave politics behind and provide us with the hard metrics to make an informed judgment.

Ralph Sims, Eagle

‘Tariff’ying the world

The tariff quid pro quo with foreign nations is disastrous for the ordinary citizen here and abroad. The stock market has plummeted and so has the spirit of Americans. The president said he “couldn’t care less” if automakers raised prices because of new tariffs, and apparently there is no need to fear a recession because the president has also said, “This is a great time to get rich.”

Mary Feeny, Boise

Misguided

Donald Trump’s tariff policies, particularly his recent escalations, represent a misguided approach to economic strategy that will harm American families, businesses, and the broader economy. While tariffs are often touted as tools to protect domestic industries, their real-world impact is far more insidious. By raising the average tariff rate to 16.5%—the highest since 1937—Trump’s measures will shrink U.S. GDP by 0.7% over the next decade and reduce imports by 25%, creating ripple effects across industries.

The consequences of these tariffs are already evident. Prices for consumer goods, such as automobiles, are projected to rise significantly—by $4,000 per vehicle—forcing families to make difficult sacrifices. Similarly, targeted tariffs on steel and aluminum will drive up costs for manufacturers, undermining their competitiveness and threatening jobs in states reliant on these industries. Retaliatory measures by trading partners like China and Canada exacerbate the situation, with counter-tariffs targeting key U.S. exports and Republican-leaning states.

Moreover, the stock market has reacted sharply, with a 10.5% drop signaling widespread disapproval among investors. These tariffs not only inflate prices but also slow economic growth and fuel inflation. Instead of fostering prosperity, Trump’s policies risk plunging the U.S. into a recession—a self-inflicted debacle that demands urgent reconsideration.

Perry Lea, Eagle

Federal downsizing

Thousands of Idahoans and millions of American private sector workers across the United States can relate to federal workers losing their jobs.

October 2000 former president Bill Clinton betrayed the American worker when he normalized trade with China. That resulted in the loss of thousands of factories across America. Trade deficit with China in 2000 was approximately $86 million, in 2024 it was $295.4 billion. Americans are financing China’s military and ability to gain global dominance.

Past congressional Democrats and Republicans worked together. Republicans provided factories, and Democrats represented workers. That partnership resulted in Americans building their American dream without social assistance. Many of those Americans were considered rich.

Today, congressional Democrats have a war on the rich and focus their efforts on social programs and a larger federal government. To have a solvent federal budget, more Americans have to pay into the system than take out.

Martin Duarte, Meridian

Car-centric

I am so disappointed in the Idaho legislature and the Governor for passing the bill restricting the capability of the Ada County Highway District to design and implement roads which fit the needs and wishes of the patrons of our district.

Not only does this law violate the oft-stated maxim that the best government is that closest to the people, but it also compromises the safety of thousands of bike riders and pedestrians.

To have the state of Idaho tell us that the state knows better than the local citizens is insulting. The legislature often rails against federal mandates, but it seems to have no problem dictating local mandates. The legislature and Gov. Little should be ashamed.

Kevin Learned, Boise

American labor

Tariffs. Never has a single work evoked such emotional outburst as the president’s tariffs. Having thought this through multiple times, I find myself believing that properly employed tariffs can accomplish worthwhile economic results. I support tariffs in support of American labor. The one aspect of product production that we cannot compete with Southeast Asian countries involves the cost of labor. We simply cannot compete with the economically coerced labor. This competitive disadvantage will not be easily overcome.

Tariffs can target certain industries so that our cost of labor more closely follows the cheap cost of labor in those labor-intensive industries. Use a tariff rate to effectively increase their cost of labor so that when we compare the cost of American labor with Southeast Asian labor, the large disconnect is eliminated. I also acknowledge that many domestic corporations have moved their factories overseas so they can take advantage of cheap labor. To protect the integrity of the tariff, I would propose increasing the tax on these corporations so that cheap labor costs with increased tax more accurately tracks with the cost of American labor. In other words, if you want cheap labor, it will still cost you. Protect American labor.

Lawrence G. Sirhall, Jr., Boise

Greater Texas

I have an idea that could save Idaho millions of dollars. As we all know, our governor, our Legislature and our attorney general all want to be like Texas. And we send our state police to Texas for training. So let’s stop pretending that we live in the state of Idaho and become Greater Texas. We can eliminate the governor’s budget, the Legislature’s budget and the attorney general’s budget (including all the legal fees he keeps spending supporting cases that have already been lost). We wouldn’t need Dorothy Moon and her ilk because there’s no need for political parties since Texas will do it all. All of the lobbyists, political groups and dark money could all go to Texas. The Idaho Freedom Foundation could change its name to what it truly is, the Wacky Idaho Freedom Foundation (WIFF). Then we can take all those savings and put them into something constructive — like schools and roads.

John Holleran, Boise