MY TAKE: TRUMP’S “LIBERATION DAY” COMES WITH INITIAL PAIN BUT PROMISES TO MAKE WINNERS OF EVERYONE!

"Liberation Day" is usually associated with an event that marks an end or the beginning of an end to war where a vanquished nation is freed or liberated from its occupiers by its "liberators". Such was the case with Europe during the last World War when the Allied Forces landed in Normandy on D-Day.

The same was true with the Philippines when Gen. Douglas McArthur fulfilled his promise of “I shall return". In both cases -- before permanent peace could be established -- the liberation process unavoidably cost the loss of more lives and the devastation of cities and villages.

Six days ago (April 2, 2025) United States President Donald J. Trump made good on his threat "to fight back" against what he described as the unfair and uneven playing field of international trade by levying a minimum of 10% tariff across the board on all countries plus more on those who would retaliate. China in particular upped its tariffs yesterday against goods coming from the US by 34% for which Trump immediately announced a whopping additional 50% to yesterday’s 84% for a new $104% tariff against China effective next week!

By contrast as of today some 70 countries have already initiated to make deals with Trump including Japan, Taiwan, Israel, the European Union, etc., each offering to eliminate tariffs altogether. Reason? They know that if they don't come to terms with Trump they would lose in the long run for the simple reason that the US is the most lucrative market in the world for any country’s goods and services bar none!

Unbeknownst to most people, for several decades since indeed the last World War the benevolence of the Americans allowed most countries to sell their products to the United States at very low tariffs. On the other hand the latter could hardly export to those countries that charge as high as 60% duty versus something like 2% the other way around -- particularly with the countries that enjoyed "MFN" status or Most Favored Nations (clause) per UNCTAD (United Nations Trade and Development) classifications.

To Trump’s credit his allegation of China’s abuse of privilege is borne of that status that identified China as a poor and undeveloped nation back in the 60s, 70s and 80s. That’s no longer the case today however, the 47th President argues, as the communistic country has now become — thanks to the U.S. sole assistance and massive infusion of capital — it’s biggest rival in economic dominance!

Times have changed and President Trump wants to end once and for all the lopsidedness by giving to the U.S. manufacturing and other industries the opportunity to bounce back from the negative effects of globalization in order to once again compete in the international market on an even keel. But, like the experience of the enemy-occupied countries during WWII there is a price to pay before a long-lasting desired result could take place — e.g., an historic albeit momentary drop in the stock market and possibly a mild recession. Trump anticipated this and is understandably confident that the commotion he deliberately caused actually heralds the genesis of America's "Golden Age". We shall soon see.

There is a lesson to be learned here, really the point of this commentary: biblically speaking, the concept of "liberation" is what salvation is all about. There is a cost to man's need to be liberated from the power and consequence of sin. The ultimate tariff for which, so to speak, was paid for and written off by Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary with no less than with His own life. All we have to do is (1) Acknowledge our sinfulness - i.e., repent; (2) Believe on Christ - i.e, put our trust by faith on His finished work of redemption and; (3) Confess -- i.e., declare with our mouth what we honestly believe in our heart that He is our Lord and Savior who conquered death by His Resurrection from the dead (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 10:9,10). This is the lesson this news item illustrates as seen through the lens of "Christian world view”.

Happy Easter!