With Donald Trump poised to return to the White House, my old trade contacts are split into two camps: those who are secretly delighted to be relevant again; and those who are already weary of the incoming “trade experts” whose main qualification is that they once read some Ricardo. For those fresh enough to fall into neither group, here is a short guide to the years ahead.
Part one is for the executives terrified of tariffs. Your first task is to get as much stuff into the country as you can before the axe comes down. During Trump’s first term many importers did not manage this, perhaps believing that the president would change his mind, or limited by the expense of storing stuff for months. This time, get creative. Could your in-laws’ boathouse hold a few thousand cases of French wine?