How Trump’s Tariff War Could Create Unexpected Beneficiaries

One of Donald Trump’s most vocal campaign promises before his election was to level the playing field in international trade. Love him or hate him, he had a point. Even prominent Democrats like Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama raised concerns about global trade imbalances in the past. The difference, however, was in the execution. Obama, perhaps cautious of triggering a diplomatic or economic backlash, never aggressively tackled the issue. Trump, on the other hand, has always approached policy in his own unorthodox—or as one political analyst put it, “non-presidential”—way.

The global norm of imposing high duties on imported goods under the guise of protecting local manufacturing isn’t unique to the U.S.—it’s widespread. Even governments with little to no solid industrial strategy adopt this model. Take countries like Ghana or Nigeria, for instance. Leaders there have often hidden behind the rhetoric of “supporting local industries” while imposing exorbitant tariffs. In reality, it becomes a tool to inflate public revenue—not for development, but often to fund a lavish and unaccountable lifestyle for those in power.

And who pays the price? The everyday consumer. Plus, exporters suffer too, as demand for their products drops due to inflated costs.

Let’s take the tech and automobile sectors as examples. Many African countries, particularly Nigeria, are major importers of used and salvaged vehicles from the U.S. After doing some research, I was stunned to learn just how much it costs to import a vehicle. My Nigerian friend had warned me, but what I found out was even more shocking.

On average, you can expect to spend at least 75% extra on top of the vehicle’s cost just to get it through Nigerian customs. And that’s being conservative—some cases see importers paying up to 300% of the purchase price in duties. The worst part? These fees are often calculated using fixed, inflated value systems that don’t reflect the actual cost of the vehicle.

All this, in a country without a globally recognized automobile brand. The few local manufacturers that do exist price their vehicles far beyond the reach of the average citizen. Meanwhile, these kleptocratic regimes use trade protectionism as a front to enrich themselves, squeeze the public further, and channel funds into dubious “local manufacturing” projects that do little to move the needle.

This is why I believe in a tax-free, open international trade system. Let markets compete on merit, not politics. If every country resorts to protectionist policies, global trade—and with it, the stock market—could suffer greatly.

Now, here’s the irony: While Trump’s tariff wars weren’t designed to help the small-time business owners in countries like China, Mexico, or Nigeria, these very people might actually end up being unexpected beneficiaries. Disrupting the status quo could force local governments to rethink their exploitative trade policies. And in the long run, that might be just what’s needed to shake things up—for the better.