It really got going on April 2nd- President Trump’s so-called “Liberation Day” - when he announced a swathe of punitive tariffs on trading partners across the world. The markets tanked and then there was a pause. Countries had 90 days to strike a trade deal - 90 deals in 90 days - we were told. But there weren’t. There were only 2. The deadline was this week but now it’s next month. But in the past few days the White House has been sending out a flurry of letters with higher tariffs for those without a deal - which is almost everyone. David Aaronovitch asks his guests just what is going on, what’s happening to world trade and what happens next?

Guests:

Soumaya Keynes, Economics Columnist The Financial Times

Meredith Crowley, Professor of Economics, University of Cambridge

Justin Wolfers, Professor of Economics and Public Professor of Economics and Public Policy, University of Michigan

Philip Coggan, author, The Economic Consequences of Mr Trump: What the Trade War Means for the World

Presenter: David Aaronovitch

Producers: Caroline Bayley, Sally Abrahams, Kirsteen Knight

Production co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele

Sound engineer: Neil Churchill and David Crackles

Editor: Richard Vadon