Whether President George E. Bush’s ill-fated decision to invade Iraq in 2003 was America’s worst geostrategic blunder since World War II and Vietnam or not, Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs may prove worse. By imposing global tariffs, Trump is performing a hat trick of sorts. First, he has more than decimated US stock markets so far. About 60% of Americans invest in these markets largely through pension and retirement funds. Second, on the current course, Trump has significantly increased the likelihood of an economic recession. But the third trick may be the most ominous. By isolating the US from the international system through tariffs, profound questions have been raised about American commitments to allies and partners. And even if the US were to put these tariffs into abeyance on a temporary hold, how long would that last is not an idle question. The US simply is no longer trusted under Trump. And even if Trump were to relent on tariffs or after he left office, the damage could be irreparable. Meanwhile, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jingping must be overjoyed with what Trump is doing. During the Cold War, the US manipulated the Sino-Soviet relationship eventually turning China against the Soviet Union. Today, US administrations have tried to repeat this ploy. Sadly, by imposing tariffs, Trump is achieving two geopolitical goals for Beijing and Moscow. First, both are being driven closer by the need to counter the US. And second, Beijing and China will exploit this condition by drawing much of the international trading system closer because of tariffs that make doing business with the US too expensive. The US will become increasingly isolated by these geopolitical and economic shifts. As Trump has turned the Grand Old Party (GOP) into Trump’s Own Party (TOP), he has cowed Congress into fawning submission This means that trade with the rest of the world will become more expensive for the US. Since 30-50% of all US manufactured products consist of foreign content, as tariffs drive up costs, these will be passed on to consumers. One example shows why tariffs will not work. The US imports about$140 billion a year of products made in Vietnam. US exports are about $14 billion. If tariffs are reduced to zero, the US should buy more from Vietnam and Vietnam from the US. Assume that is an increase of 10% by both. That will favor the imbalance-US imports would soar to $154 billion and only to $15.4 billion of exports increasing the imbalance. What would China and Russia do? First, the BRIC states-Brazil, Russia, India and China-will draw closer. China will continue to expand its Belt and Road Initiatives (BRI) offering better trade deals in attempts to cut off US influence. Russia too will use its energy and defense capabilities for external sales. Diplomatically, tariffs will generate retaliation and retribution against the US. China and Russia will use this to their ends. Meanwhile, the US will be whiplashed by a triple whammy. The Department of Government Efficiency has so far created more disruption and damage to the agencies where it has landed than any savings or efficiencies that may have been achieved. If the extension of the 2017 tax cuts are made permanent, that will add about $6 trillion to the debt. And tariffs have already shed over $10 trillion from the markets inducing a very possible economic recession or crisis. The debt is $36 trillion now. It could rise to well over $40 trillion before Trump’s term ends. So how is this not a geo-economic-strategic crisis and blunder of the first order. One casualty will be NATO as well since Trump will demand greater defense spending at a time when governments will be increasingly hard pressed to deal with this looming economic crisis. And the war in Ukraine persists as the Trump administration is favoring Russia. Otherwise, why is Russia excluded from tariffs? As Trump has turned the Grand Old Party (GOP) into Trump’s Own Party (TOP), he has cowed Congress into fawning submission. Members of Congress must reread Article I, Section 8 that delineates its authorities: -The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; -To borrow Money on the credit of the United States; -To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian Tribes; Then Congress, do your duty! The writer is a senior advisor at Washington, DC’s Atlantic Council and a published author. He can be reached on Twitter @harlankullman.