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Five-Minute Debate · June 22 · 23 min

216. Do Tariffs Cause Wars? Will the Latest U.S. Tariffs Trigger One?

Do Tariffs Cause Wars? Will the LatestU.S. Tariffs Trigger One? Throughout history, tariffs have beenmore than just economic policies—they’ve shaped international trust, alliances,and sometimes even fueled wars. The Smoot-Hawley Tariff of 1930 is often citedby scholars like Douglas Irwin as deepening the Great Depression andaggravating global instability before World War II. Others, like Nobel laureatePaul Krugman, argue that tariffs, while disruptive, are simply tools ofnegotiation rather than triggers for conflict.

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Do Tariffs Cause Wars? Will the LatestU.S. Tariffs Trigger One?

Throughout history, tariffs have beenmore than just economic policies—they’ve shaped international trust, alliances,and sometimes even fueled wars. The Smoot-Hawley Tariff of 1930 is often citedby scholars like Douglas Irwin as deepening the Great Depression andaggravating global instability before World War II. Others, like Nobel laureatePaul Krugman, argue that tariffs, while disruptive, are simply tools ofnegotiation rather than triggers for conflict.

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