"The Nationalist Threat to Liberty" - My Final Contribution to the Liberty Fund Symposium on "The Legacy of David Boaz"
The symposium has now concluded.
Free Trade
How Much of Trump's 'Built in America' Phone Is Actually Built in America?
The Trump Organization says the phone is domestically manufactured, but its hardware—and a statement from Eric Trump—suggest otherwise.
Trump Is Slapping a 50 Percent Tariff on Home Appliances
Refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers are among the products subject to the president’s 50 percent tariff on imports derived from aluminum and steel.
Tariffs on Chinese Goods Drop to 55%, but That's Cold Comfort for Consumers
Triple-digit bilateral tariffs have been brought down to double digits. Negotiations on semiconductors and rare earth elements will continue.
Federal Circuit Grants Government's Motion for Stay Pending Appeal in Our Tariff Case
It's disappointing. But the court will hear the case on the merits on an expedited basis, and we have a strong case.
Defending the Court of International Trade Ruling Against Trump's Tariffs - A Reply to John Yoo
Yoo's criticisms are off the mark, for a variety of reasons. But, tellingly, he actually agrees Trump's IEEPA tariffs are illegal, merely disagreeing with the court's reasons for reaching that conclusion.
Defending the Court of International Trade Ruling Against Trump's Tariffs - A Reply to Jack Goldsmith
The CIT ruling is much stronger than Prof. Goldsmith contends. The same is true of a related ruling by federal District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras.
How Tariffs Are Breaking the Manufacturing Industries Trump Says He Wants To Protect
Most imports to the U.S. are raw materials, intermediate parts, or equipment—the stuff that manufacturing firms need to make things.
This Small Business Is in Limbo As Owner Sues To Stop Trump's Tariffs
Next week could be a pivotal one, as a federal appeals court could decide whether to restore an injunction against Trump's tariffs.
The Legal Battle Over the Motion to Stay the Decision Against Trump's Tariffs
This crucial procedural issue is now before the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Its resolution will determine whether the tariffs are immediately suspended, or get to continue so long as the case is stil being litigated.
Milton Friedman Disproved Trump's Argument for Tariffs Decades Ago
In a 1978 appearance at Utah State University, the Nobel Prize–winning economist provided the perfect retort to those who blindly argue we should "build in America."
No, Trade With China Did Not Kill the U.S. Economy
A new comprehensive review finds the negative effects of trade with China have been significantly exaggerated.
Morning Consult Poll Indicates Judicial Invalidation of Trump's Tariffs is Popular
The poll finds 55% approve and only 30% disapprove of the recent ruling against his IEEPA tariffs.
Correcting Some Media Misconceptions About Libertarianism, Trade, and Immigration [updated with apology/acknowledgement of error by Elie Mystal]
Media coverage of our tariff case has mostly been fair and accurate. But there are a few examples of unfortunate misconceptions, mainly having to do with libertarianism and its relationship to conservatism.
Michael McConnell on the Tariff Cases and their Significance
A leading conservative legal scholar explains why striking down Trump's IEEPA tariffs is vital to protecting the separation of powers.
Compendium of Writings About the Trump Tariff Case [Updated]
Links to my writings about our case against Trump's "Liberation Day" Tariffs and related issues.
The Tariff Downturn
Plus: Drilling in the Alaskan wilderness, Harvard tries "wastefulness" argument, Stephen Miller tells on himself, and more...
These 4 Industries Successfully Lobbied Trump for Tariff Exemptions
Trump's trade war has created a carve-out bonanza for industries with political connections and big lobbying budgets.
Artificial Intelligence Is Making Everything Weird
Plus: A listener asks if the "big beautiful bill" will decrease the deficit.
J.D. Vance Wants a Free Market for Crypto. What About Everything Else?
Vance says "you've gotta let these people make decisions on their own." He should try that approach more generally.
Welcoming Anti-Trump Liberals to the Free Trade Club
The real case for free trade is not "my enemies hate it" or "it's cheaper for me, personally" but "it makes the world richer, freer, and more peaceful."
Hub and UnPopulist Podcasts About the Tariff Case
The podcasts cover the case and its relationship to the more general problem of abuse of emergency powers.
Two Courts Have Ruled Against Trump's Tariffs—but Not for the Same Reasons
Both are wins for free trade, but only one vindicates the separation of powers.
Congress Must Vote on Tariffs
For both practical and constitutional reasons, this is the obvious way out of the chaos Trump's tariffs have created.
How Our Tariff Case Came About
The Wall Street Journal, CBC, and Time published good articles on the story behind the case filed by the Liberty Justice Center and myself.
Tariff Legal Battle Plays Out
Plus: Javier Milei puts state-run TV to good use, Texas' THC antagonism, rent control lunacy, and more...
Some Interviews About Our Tariff Case
Some of the more informative interviews I have done about our win in the case against Trump's tariffs, in lawsuit filed by the Liberty Justice Center and myself.
Federal District Court Issues Another Ruling Against Trump's IEEPA Tariffs
The decision by Judge Rudolph Contreras of the US District Court for the District Columbia holds IEEPA doesn't authorize the president to impose tariffs at all.
Federal Circuit Issues Brief Administrative Stay in Our Tariff Case
This is a standard order imposing a brief stay of the trial court ruling, while the parties litigate the issue of whether a longer stay should be imposed.
What To Expect Now That Trump Has Scrapped Biden's Crippling AI Regulations
"New opportunities for innovation, economic growth, and global engagement," says one expert.
Did 'Activist Judges' Derail Trump's Tariffs?
No. One of the judges in Wednesday's unanimous ruling was a Trump appointee, and the ruling rested on important legal and constitutional principles.
We Won Our Tariff Case!
The Court of International Trade just issued a decision striking down Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs and other IEEPA tariffs.
A Federal Court Just Blocked Trump's Tariffs
The Court of International Trade ruled that Trump's emergency economic powers do not include the authority to impose tariffs on nearly all imports.
Nippon Steel Will Finally Get To Buy U.S. Steel. The Deal Likely Ensures More Federal Meddling in the Future.
The federal government will reportedly get a "golden share" in U.S. Steel, potentially allowing it to overrule shareholders on some decisions.
The Trade War Is Eroding America's Soft Power
The debate over free trade should include more than the costs of Trump's tariffs versus the value of cheaper stuff.
Thoughts on the Oral Argument in the Oregon Case Against Trump's IEEPA Tariffs
Like that in the similar case filed by Liberty Justice Center and myself, this one indicated judicial skepticism of Trump's claims to virtually unlimited power to impose tariffs.
Trump Declares That iPhones Should Be More Expensive
Whether due to tariffs or because they are made in America, the result would be much higher prices.
Farmers Need Free Markets, Not Tariffs and Welfare
The more important the product—and food certainly ranks high on any list—the better it is to allow markets to work.
Gary Winslett: The American Dream Has Migrated South
Middlebury professor Gary Winslett argues the South—not China—poached the Rust Belt’s manufacturing base by out-competing it on policy.
Forbes Interview on Developments in Our Case and Other Litigation Against Trump's "Liberation Day" Tariffs
I was interviewed by Brittany Lewis of Forbes.
Upcoming Cato Institute Virtual Event on "Tariffs, Emergencies, and Presidential Power"
I will be speaking, along with Cato Institute scholar Walter Olson.
Subaru Is the Latest Carmaker To Hike Prices in Response to Tariffs
Subaru says it has "adjusted its pricing in response to current market conditions," but we all know what that means.
Berating the Businesses
Plus: Tim Dillon takes on the establishment, Chicago's racist hiring strategies, train fetishes, and more...
Trump Threatens Walmart Not To React to His Tariffs
On the bright side, at least Trump finally admitted his tariffs are, indeed, paid by Americans.
Trump's Tariffs Are Sapping Small Business Optimism
Seasonally adjusted job openings and capital outlay spending are declining to levels not seen since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trade War Means Higher Prices, Fewer Customers for This Vermont Distillery: 'It's Just Chaos'
Scenes from a trade war.
My New Lawfare Article "Trump's 'Emergencies' Are Pretexts for Undermining the Constitution"
The article explains why these claims to emergency powers are illegal and dangerous, and how to stop them.
New Republic Podcast Interview on Our Case Against Trump's "Liberation Day" Tariffs [Updated With Embedded Audio]
Greg Sargent of the New Republic interviewed me.
