Tariffs are dominating the news cycle worldwide—and for good reason. In 2025, President Donald Trump’s administration took an unprecedented step, imposing sweeping tariffs on imports from some of the world’s largest trading partners: Canada, the EU, China, and beyond. These tariffs have redefined the landscape of global trade and set the stage for a new era of economic confrontation. But what are tariffs, exactly? How do they work, and why is it important to understand them?

J.E. Fowlers, best-selling author of Democracy at Risk, explores the long history and powerful forces behind this dramatic shift, revealing the profound impact tariffs will have on our lives like never before. From the strategic decisions in the White House to the global maneuvering by multinational corporations, this book offers an eye-opening look at how tariffs are used to shape national policy, influence foreign relations, and control the flow of global commerce.

The 2025 tariffs are part of a long history of protectionist policies that have shaped global trade for centuries. Fowlers traces the evolution of tariffs from the ancient world to the industrial era, through to the rise of economic powerhouses like the U.

S. and China. He examines key moments in history, showing how these past policies laid the groundwork for the current tariff landscape.

Tariffs have taken center stage as a driving force of economic strategy, affecting everything from manufacturing to the cost of consumer goods to global power dynamics in ways we are only beginning to understand.

As tariffs become a fixture in the world’s economic landscape, understanding who controls them and how they shape our future has never been more important. Tariffs: What They Are, How They Work, and Why They’re Important is essential listening to understand the complexities of modern trade policy—and the sweeping changes Trump’s tariffs will bring to every aspect of global commerce.