from ROSS ANSON in Massachusetts, US
Special Correspondent
MASSACHUSETTS, (CAJ News) – IN a packed auditorium at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, the air was thick with anticipation. The panel, titled “Protectionism: The End of Globalisation,” had drawn a crowd of diplomats, economists, and policy wonks from around the world. But it was one voice sharp, unflinching, and unmistakably American that cut through the diplomatic haze and ignited a firestorm of debate.
That voice belonged to Professor Jeffrey Sachs.
The renowned economist and public intellectual, known for his work on sustainable development and global poverty, took the stage with a singular mission: to dismantle what he called the “delusional economics” behind Donald Trump’s tariff policies. And he did so with the precision of a surgeon and the fury of a prophet.
A Speech That Shook the Room
Sachs’s critique was not subtle. “Trump’s tariffs are childish,” he declared, pacing the stage like a man possessed. “They’re based on a misunderstanding of basic economics. If you run up a large credit card debt, you’re running a trade deficit. It would be strange to blame the shop owners.”
The analogy landed like a punch. The audience composed of seasoned diplomats and trade experts knew exactly what he meant. Sachs was accusing the Trump administration of weaponizing economic ignorance, turning trade deficits into political scapegoats, and using tariffs as blunt instruments of nationalist theater.
He went further. “The formula they used to calculate tariffs wouldn’t pass a first-year, third-week economics class,” he said, drawing laughter and groans from the crowd. “It’s not just bad policy it’s dangerous.”
The Return of Tariff Politics
Trump’s return to the White House in 2025 has reignited debates over trade, protectionism, and America’s role in the global economy. His administration has doubled down on tariffs, targeting Chinese electronics, European steel, and even Canadian lumber. The justification? Protect American jobs, punish “cheating” nations, and restore manufacturing glory.
But critics argue that the tariffs have done the opposite. Prices have risen, supply chains have fractured, and diplomatic relations have frayed. Sachs’s speech in Antalya was a culmination of years of frustration among economists who see the tariff strategy as economically incoherent and politically reckless.
The $10 Trillion Warning
Perhaps the most alarming moment in Sachs’s speech came when he warned of a potential $10 trillion loss in global wealth due to escalating trade wars. “This isn’t just about America,” he said. “It’s about the entire global system. When the world’s largest economy starts slapping tariffs on everything, it creates ripple effects that destabilize markets, undermine trust, and hurt the poorest nations the most.”
He cited data from the World Bank and IMF showing that protectionist policies have historically led to slower growth, higher inflation, and increased inequality. “We’ve seen this movie before,” he said. “It doesn’t end well.”
Authoritarian Drift
Beyond economics, Sachs raised a more chilling concern: the erosion of democratic norms. “We are drifting toward one-man rule by emergency decree,” he warned. “Tariffs are being imposed without congressional oversight, without public debate, and often without any clear rationale.”
He pointed to recent executive orders that expanded presidential powers over trade policy, allowing sweeping tariffs to be enacted in the name of “national security.” “This is not how a democracy is supposed to function,” Sachs said. “It’s how autocracies operate.”
The Global Response
Sachs’s remarks have reverberated far beyond Antalya. Within hours, clips of his speech were circulating on social media, drawing praise from economists and scorn from Trump loyalists. The hashtag #TariffDelusion began trending on X (formerly Twitter), with users sharing charts, memes, and commentary dissecting the fallout of Trump’s trade war.
European leaders, many of whom have clashed with Trump over tariffs, welcomed Sachs’s intervention. “It’s refreshing to hear such clarity,” said Margrethe Vestager, EU Commissioner for Competition. “We need more voices like his.”
Chinese officials, meanwhile, used the speech to bolster their own narrative. “Professor Sachs has exposed the irrationality of American trade policy,” said a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce. “We hope the U.S. will return to reason.”
The Economics Behind the Critique
At the heart of Sachs’s argument is a simple economic truth: trade deficits are not inherently bad. They reflect differences in savings and investment, not moral failings or strategic blunders. When a country imports more than it exports, it’s often because its citizens are consuming more or investing abroad.
Tariffs, Sachs argued, do not fix trade deficits. They merely shift costs onto consumers and provoke retaliation. “You don’t solve a budget problem by taxing your own people,” he said. “You solve it by addressing the root causes—like overspending, under-saving, and structural inefficiencies.”
He also criticized the lack of nuance in Trump’s approach. “Not all imports are bad. Not all exports are good. The world is interconnected. Trying to isolate America through tariffs is like trying to build a dam in the middle of the ocean.”
Political Theater vs. Economic Reality
Sachs’s speech was not just an academic exercise it was a political intervention. He accused the Trump administration of using tariffs as a form of political theater, designed to rally nationalist sentiment and distract from deeper economic problems.
“Tariffs are easy to understand,” he said. “They sound tough. They make headlines. But they don’t solve anything. They’re a distraction from the real work of economic reform.”
He urged policymakers to focus on education, infrastructure, and innovation areas that actually strengthen competitiveness. “If you want to bring jobs back, invest in people. Don’t punish the world.”
The Road Ahead
As the Antalya Diplomacy Forum wrapped up, Sachs’s speech remained the talk of the town. Delegates debated its implications over coffee and cocktails, wondering whether the tide of protectionism could be reversed.
Some were hopeful. “There’s still time to change course,” said a trade official from Brazil. “But we need leadership. We need courage.”
Others were skeptical. “Trump’s base loves tariffs,” said a U.S. diplomat who asked not to be named. “They see it as strength. Changing that narrative won’t be easy.”
– CAJ News