Trump’s Tariff Hammer and the Strategic Calculus Behind the Mar-a-Lago Accord

... geopolitical objectives. The following article dissects the rationale behind Trump’s “tariff hammer,” evaluates its economic foundations, the Mar-a-Lago Accords, and broader implications and consequences of the U.S. retreat for U.S. allies, particularly Germany. Trade Imbalances and Justifications The United States currently runs a current account [ 2 ] and balance of payments deficit with the EU, which, though narrowed since 2020—likely due to rising U.S. digital service exports and German industrial ...