Faites vos jeux. There is still time to play the tariff roulette. Although it remains as obscure as ever where the boule will ultimately stop, there is a growing belief that the US will, on average, impose import tariffs of between 15% and 20% on both major and minor trading partners.
Taking a momentary drift into stereotype, it has always been the remit of the far left, or at least those that claim to be, to out-shout any argument that is disagreeable. Here in the UK, apart from the insulted 'swivelled-eyed conservatives' who had the audacity to express anything other than agreement to the latest 'Kumbaya' socialist fad; tax paying, self-helping majorities here, and mirrored globally, expressed opposition with quiet indignation.
A week in which a trade deal has been struck with the Philippines, Indonesia and most importantly Japan has excited the US stock markets so much that another all-time high was registered yesterday in the S&P and Nasdaq. The S&P is worthy of note as the wide-ranging representative index has scored thirteen highs already in 2025. Given that many commentators seem to be congregating around the nearness of a European trade deal, it is doubtful the count of highs stop at this supposed unlucky number.
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