When tariffs turn from a 'national defense tool' into an 'economic noose', when American citizens fall into debt traps due to soaring prices, small and micro enterprises are on the brink of bankruptcy, and global allies are collectively dissatisfied... is this still the America that claims to be 'great again'?
Trump's tariff stick is being wielded again, but this time, the applause for the return of manufacturing is replaced by a series of looming economic crisis signals.
According to reports cited by CCTV from domestic and international institutions, the U.S.'s high tariff barriers are rapidly transforming into multiple pressure points of labor market fluctuations, systemic debt risks, high inflation impacts, and decoupling from global supply chains, spreading from Washington to all corners of the world.
One, are tariffs 'being ramped up' again? The Federal Reserve warns: a wave of unemployment is coming.
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller publicly stated on the 24th that if the Trump administration maintains its current aggressive tariff measures, a wave of layoffs in American companies may erupt before July, potentially leading to massive unemployment.
He stated directly that if the labor market significantly deteriorates, he would lean towards supporting rapid interest rate cuts to hedge against the impact.
This essentially provides a clear time window: if tariff policies are not adjusted, significant cracks will appear in the U.S. job market within three months.
At the same time, American companies are facing a deeper layer of concerns — global retaliatory tariffs have begun to backfire on domestic manufacturers and exporters, especially in industries like agriculture, automotive, and steel that rely heavily on external markets.
Two, debt chaos spreads: credit card balances reach a historic high of $1.21 trillion.
The financial situation of American consumers is facing a critical point of collapse.
According to the latest report from Yinhui Network:
Nearly half of credit card users cannot repay on time;
Over 53% of people have debts exceeding one year;
The average interest rate on credit cards is as high as 20%. If only the minimum payment is made, it may take 18 years to pay off, with about $10,000 in interest.
Data from the New York Fed is even more direct: the total U.S. credit card debt has reached $1.21 trillion, setting a historical record.
Under the ongoing pressure of high-cost expenditures like housing, childcare, and healthcare, the normalization of 'debt feeding debt' is causing more and more American families to fall into long-term financial exhaustion, while the rise in inflation combined with tariffs will crush the last straw.
Three, even flowers are hurt: small and micro enterprises are severely impacted, and price 'latent explosions' have begun.
Don't think that high tariffs only affect steel and automobiles. Given that 80% of flowers in the U.S. rely on imports, flower shops have also become direct victims of trade policies.
From Colombia to Thailand, from Ecuador to the Netherlands, imported flowers are facing tax increases, leading to a sharp rise in retail prices, while the dilemma of consumer loss and cost transfer has left countless flower operators in a dire situation of 'either raise prices and die or live at a loss'.
More critically, the flower industry is just the tip of the iceberg — from dining to apparel, from medical devices to daily necessities, a new round of inflationary chain has been fully launched without consumers noticing.
Four, global backlash: Allies collectively warn that the U.S. is heading toward isolation.
While Washington loudly promotes 'America First', the backlash from around the globe is also intensifying simultaneously:
The Canadian Finance Minister bluntly stated at the G7 meeting: 'U.S. tariffs are disrupting the global trade order, and Canada will not sit idly by.'
IMF President Georgieva rarely stated: 'The global economy is facing a significant test, and countries are urged to resolve trade disputes quickly and restore cooperation and stability.'
Moreover, the U.S. has also sparked huge concerns within Korean and Japanese companies:
Take South Korea's Hyundai Group as an example: despite announcing a $21 billion investment in the U.S. in an attempt to obtain an 'exemption passport', it led to the shutdown of domestic iron-making plants, layoffs, a 22% drop in stock prices, and shaken investor confidence.
This reality of 'investing in the U.S. for exemptions' also makes many allied countries feel a strong sense of inequality — is it a free market? Or a politically coerced exchange?
Five, under multidimensional turmoil, how will global financial markets respond?
In the face of uncertainties brought about by the shift in trade policy, the dollar index is experiencing increased volatility, gold prices are rising, commodity futures are tense, and capital flight to safety is intensifying.
In this context, new financial products like stablecoins, digital dollars, and tokenized government bonds are becoming new outlets for global funds.
Especially the Mlion.ai platform, based on AI + financial data integration, helps professional investors quickly adapt to the capital volatility rhythm under frequent policy changes through on-chain dynamic monitoring, fund flow identification, event-driven signal tracking, and other functions.
In the gap between political 'strong interference' and economic 'micro-collapse', tools with real-time data perception and analysis capabilities will determine who can navigate the chaos and establish a foothold at the beginning of the next trend.
Conclusion:
This round of global economic rebalancing triggered by high tariffs is no longer a problem for any single country, but a turning point for the entire global financial structure and resource redistribution.
The U.S. attempts to redefine 'manufacturing return' and 'national strength' through tariffs, but the cost may be: inflation rebound, public debt collapse, breakdown of ally relationships, and a collective shaking of global confidence.
The real issue is no longer whether the 'trade war is just', but whether the global economic system is strong enough to withstand the systemic shocks brought by policy polarization.
Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for informational purposes only and do not constitute any investment advice. The market has risks; enter the market with caution.