Jeanne Barron: Damaging tariffs hurt us all

The recent blizzard of new tariffs unleashed by the Trump administration isn't just confusing trade policy; it's a direct hit on American families and businesses. From skyrocketing taxes on imports from China to broad levies on steel, aluminum, cars, and a new baseline tariff on nearly everything else, these actions contradict basic economics and common sense.

Here in Northampton, like across the country, we feel the impact: higher prices at the checkout, increased costs for local manufacturers and small businesses, and retaliatory tariffs hurting our farmers. These outcomes aren't surprising — they align precisely with warnings from the vast majority of economists whose advice has been pointedly ignored.

The Trump administration justifies this economic self-harm with claims widely rejected by experts. It raises serious questions when policies persist despite clear evidence they hurt the very people they claim to help. One has to wonder if the goal isn't truly economic benefit, but rather a deliberate disruption of the stable international cooperation and alliances that ultimately support American security and prosperity.

It's time to demand trade policies grounded in reality, not debunked theories. We need an approach that strengthens America through smart engagement, not one that inflicts pain on its own citizens while isolating us on the world stage. These tariffs must be reconsidered based on facts and their real-world consequences. We can't sit this one out. Make your voice heard!

Jeanne Barron

Northampton