President Trump’s 2025 tariff blitz, dubbed “Liberation Day,” has set off economic alarms around the globe. With a 10% universal tariff on all imports and targeted sanctions on nearly 90 countries, the scale is unprecedented in modern trade history. But how does this moment compare to America’s past tariff battles?

Let’s put it in perspective.

The 1930s Tariff That Crashed the World

In 1930, the U.S. passed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, raising taxes on over 20,000 imported goods. The idea was to protect American jobs during the Depression. Instead, it triggered massive retaliation and helped sink the global economy.

Trump’s 2025 move echoes Smoot-Hawley, but it’s even bigger. This time, it’s not just about products—it’s about punishing entire countries. The scale and message are far more aggressive.Signed into law during the Great Depression, the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act raised duties on over 20,000 goods. The goal was protectionism. The outcome? A worldwide collapse in trade as nations retaliated, deepening the global downturn.

This is Trump’s clearest historical parallel: a sweeping, ideologically driven move that ignores global economic fragility and triggers retaliation. If anything, Trump’s reach is broader. Smoot-Hawley was about goods. “Liberation Day” is about allies, enemies, and power.

The 1828 Tariff That Nearly Split the U.S.

The so-called Tariff of Abominations nearly caused a civil war. Southern states, especially South Carolina, rebelled against what they saw as unfair taxes that favored the North.

Today, Trump’s tariffs are creating similar divides—not between regions, but between industries. Farmers, exporters, and tech firms are all hit differently, with no clear strategy in place.Known officially as the Tariff of 1828, this early protectionist move triggered the Nullification Crisis when South Carolina refused to enforce it. The country nearly fractured over tariffs. The law pitted North against South, industrial against agrarian.

Trump isn’t facing secession, but his tariffs are again dividing the U.S.—this time by sector. Farmers, manufacturers, and tech companies are not all affected equally. The chaos is political as much as economic.

Bush’s Steel Tariffs Didn’t Last Long

In 2002, President George W. Bush tried shielding U.S. steelmakers with new tariffs. But global pressure and a WTO ruling forced him to back down within a year.

Trump’s approach in 2025 is the opposite. Instead of seeking relief for one industry, he’s targeting almost every country and product with no end in sight.In 2002, George W. Bush imposed tariffs of up to 30% on foreign steel. They lasted barely a year before the World Trade Organization ruled them illegal. Even traditional allies like the EU threatened massive retaliatory tariffs.

Trump’s 2025 tariffs, by contrast, target those same allies. No illusions of temporary relief—this is structural decoupling by force.

Obama Targeted Tires—Briefly

President Obama’s 2009 tariffs on Chinese tires aimed to slow a sudden surge. The move followed trade rules and was limited in scope.

That’s a sharp contrast to Trump’s sweeping action, which ignores global trade norms and applies tariffs even to longtime allies like Canada, Japan, and the EU.Barack Obama placed tariffs on Chinese tires to address a specific surge harming domestic producers. It worked to slow imports but had little long-term effect. Crucially, it followed WTO rules.

Trump’s 2025 move doesn’t just ignore WTO norms—it challenges the system itself. There’s no mediation, no negotiation, just a list and a threat.

Trump’s First Tariff Wave Was Just the Start

Back in 2018, Trump slapped tariffs on steel, aluminum, and Chinese goods. It disrupted trade and provoked retaliation, but it was all framed as negotiation.

Now? There’s no negotiation. Trump’s 2025 tariffs aren’t a tactic—they’re a worldview.Trump’s earlier tariffs hit steel, aluminum, and Chinese goods. They sparked retaliation, especially from China, and disrupted supply chains. But they were framed as leverage to strike new trade deals.

In 2025, the gloves are off. There is no diplomatic endgame. This isn’t about negotiation anymore. It’s about control.

Where This Ranks in U.S. History

Smoot-Hawley might still hold the title for most damaging U.S. tariff policy—but Trump’s latest offensive may be on track to surpass it.

The 2025 tariffs are bigger, bolder, and far more isolating. In an economy that depends on international coordination, Trump has chosen confrontation.

The consequences are already unfolding—and history won’t be kind.