The average cost of a car according to Kelly Blue Book is $49,740, but under President Donald Trump’s new tariffs, the average price could rise by at least $3,000, with some trucks seeing an additional $10,000 spike. Although the tariffs, which are a tax on imported goods, are focused on reducing the trade deficit and protecting American industries, they have sparked a significant debate on the global stage. One side argues that the tariffs could strengthen America’s economy, while the opposing view warns that they inflict greater harm, undermining the nation’s prosperity.

   Trump is fond of using tariffs for one key reason.

   “The tariff concept is something that he can do unilaterally … without congressional approval … and maybe that’s why he’s more willing to go towards it,” social science teacher Brandon Burmeister said.

   For now, Trump has backpedaled on the 25% tariffs on all Canadian and Mexican goods. But China was not spared, getting hit with a 10% tariff on Chinese imports prompting retaliatory tariffs on their United States imports. According to a Feb. 12 New York Times article, neither country is in a rush to talk, indicating that the tariffs could be here to stay for a while.

   Meanwhile, a Yahoo Finance article from Feb. 14 reports that Trump ordered a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports into the U.S. from all countries. Additionally, Trump recently signed a measure that could lead to the implementation of reciprocal tariffs on all U.S. trading partners as soon as April.

   Trump has made the warrant clear as to why he is doing the reciprocal tariffs. According to a Feb. 13 White House Fact Sheet, U.S. trading partners have repeatedly placed disproportionally large tariffs on U.S. exports, but the U.S. doesn’t do the same. This is a major component of the growing trade deficit, currently at $98.4 billion.

   Furthermore, tariffs could be a motivating factor for American industries to become more self-sufficient and not rely on other countries.

   “[Tariffs are] going to increase the domestic price that consumers pay,” social science teacher Caralyn Saldarraiga said. “But then there’s going to be pressure on the domestic producers to produce either a substitute or increase their own supply … We could possibly achieve the same prices given enough time, and then we don’t have the risk associated with being dependent on another country.”

   However, there are some drawbacks to how the tariff works, and the undisputable truth still remains: inflation will go up.

   “Ultimately, the prices are still going to be up because there’s a reason that these goods are produced overseas, because labor and supply are cheaper,” Burmeister said. “Therefore, the products can be sold at a cheaper price. When you start putting that inside the United States, the labor, time and supplies are more expensive, so the prices are going to go up.”

   Further, tariffs could destabilize the already volatile housing market in Central Florida and drive up prices for goods made with aluminum and steel.

   “The tariffs on aluminum and steel are going to cause soda, automobile and housing prices to go up,” Burmeister said. “You’re going to see prices go up across the board for people that are just day-to-day buying and selling things. We have a real estate market that is already really inflated, it’s going to be even more inflated now. So, buying a house and moving things are going to be really difficult in Central Florida.”

   The tariffs could also impact Trinity students looking to get into sports.

   “I think the biggest way that the tariffs would affect Trinity students is the price of sports equipment,” senior James Hawley said. “I know football uses Riddell, which comes from China, and basketball uses Wilson and Nike shoes, and both of those are manufactured in China, so those are all going to become more expensive for students who want to get into sports.”

   Looking to the future, the tariffs could have a positive effect on the job landscape, but a negative effect on the cost of living for the seniors at Trinity.

   “There’s definitely going to be protectionism for manufacturing jobs, but while this is going to add more jobs to the market, the price to then pay for all the needed goods to live is going to increase,” Hawley said.

   With this in mind, the tariffs imposed by President Trump have exposed the fragility of the global economy, and world leaders will have to take their next steps very carefully.

   “There are a lot of big landmines sitting out there that could easily blow up into a pretty bad economic situation,” Burmeister said.