Trade under Trump: tariffs, trade agreements and what comes next

President Trump has followed through on the trade agenda he laid out at the start of his term, seeking to “rebalance” global trade in favour of the United States. On 7 August, a global regime of reciprocal tariffs came into force, marking a dramatic shift in the trade landscape. Alongside this, the administration has imposed targeted tariffs on autos and auto parts, copper, steel and aluminium, with more sectors including pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and critical minerals, now in its sights.The result has been a sharp rise in the average effective tariff rate, signalling major changes for businesses operating across international markets.In this podcast, Associate Director Kathryn Watson chairs a discussion with Sam Lowe, Partner and Head of Flint’s Trade and Market Access practice, Katie Whitting, Flint Partner and former Australian diplomat and Thomas Barros-Tastets, Flint's Managing Partner Europe, with extensive experience in trade dispute cases as they unpack the shifting US tariff landscape and what it means for businesses navigating global supply chains.