(C) Daily Yonder - Keep it Rural This story was originally published by Daily Yonder - Keep it Rural and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . How to Survive a Trade War [1] ['Claire Carlson', 'The Daily Yonder', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width', 'Vertical-Align Bottom .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar'] Date: 2025-02-12 Days after he took office, President Donald Trump introduced a 10% tariff on all products from China, setting up a trade war that started during his first term (China has retaliated with their own tariffs on U.S. products). Trump plans to enact 25% tariffs on all goods from Canada (with the exception of Canadian natural gas and oil, which will see a 10% tariff) and Mexico – a move that was delayed during negotiations between the three countries but is expected to go into effect next month. And on Monday, Trump announced a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum products imported to the U.S., expected to go into effect March 12. Canada, China, and Mexico account for more than one-third of all imported goods sold in the U.S., including fruits and vegetables, gas, electronics, and clothing – essential products for American consumers. Despite some of the initial hiccups enacting these tariffs, economists predict that they will eventually increase the price of goods, which begs the question: How does the average consumer survive a global trade war? First suggestion: fill up your gas tank before the Canadian tariffs hit. It’s impossible to predict exactly how much gas prices will increase, but chances are they won’t get lower once tariffs on one of the world’s largest gas producers go into effect next month. Second: make sure your gadgets big and small – from your cell phone to your automobile – are in working order. I’m loath to suggest buying new equipment in anticipation of price increases, but if they’re legitimately broken, that could be the best idea. Otherwise, take care of your stuff – while products are built to break thanks to late-stage capitalism’s planned obsolescence strategy, I’m proud to say up until last month, I was using a cell phone I purchased in 2017. I only recently replaced it with a used but “in great condition” iPhone 13. Take care of your stuff, resist the temptation to constantly upgrade your electronics, and remember there’s a booming used goods market for practically every product you can think of. Third: consider where your food comes from. Between the tariffs and the rise of bird flu, grocery store prices aren’t particularly kind to anyone’s wallet right now. Exploring alternatives to some of the pricier products – eggs come to mind – is one way to combat this (applesauce can be used in place of eggs in baking!), but localizing your foodways might be the best option. Depending where you live and what your budget is, that could mean visiting farmers’ markets, roadside farm stands, or signing up for a CSA (community supported agriculture) box. Growing your own food, whether that’s just a mini herb garden on your windowsill or a full-on backyard farming operation, is another great option. Whatever happens, taking care of your stuff, shopping second hand, sowing seeds, and consuming less overall are excellent ways to build resilience not just in the face of tariffs but whatever the next four years (and beyond) bring. Related Republish This Story Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license. [END] --- [1] Url: https://dailyyonder.com/how-to-survive-a-trade-war/2025/02/12/ Published and (C) by Daily Yonder - Keep it Rural Content appears here under this condition or license: Creative Commons CC BY-ND 4.0 International. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailyyonder/