TradeSmart Strategy

Enhancing Economic Well-Being through Trade

TradeSmart Strategy LLC applies international trade policy and analysis to propose policy measures to increase trade and employment and therefore enhance individual well-being across the globe.

A fundamental theme of this site is that trade policy can be used to encourage adoption of basic human and economic principles in countries where government leadership is neither responsible nor accountable to their public.

New blogs will be posted regularly commenting on existing trade policy issues, current trade trends or proposed measures to enhance trade.

Contact

Trade Smart Strategy LLC

Washington DC

Email: info@TradeSmartStrategy.com

Current Trade Commentary

The Impact of the 20% Tariff on Imports from Vietnam – US Consumer Prices Up, Industrial Competitiveness Down
July 6, 2025 Summary: This blog discusses the potential impact of the newly agreed 20% flat tariff on all U.S. imports from Vietnam. Vietnam is the sixth largest national source of US imports and so tariff adjustments will impact both Vietnamese producers and US buyers. Slim net profit margins in labor-intensive consumer goods industries will… Read more: The Impact of the 20% Tariff on Imports from Vietnam – US Consumer Prices Up, Industrial Competitiveness Down
The Beauty of Value-Added Tax for the United States – More Revenue with Least Impact
June 21, 2025. This site is overdue for another opinion on the current US tax and tariff debate as it continues into the summer. A concern of the new administration has been the imposition of high rates of value added tax (VAT) by importing countries on goods imported from the United States. This is seen… Read more: The Beauty of Value-Added Tax for the United States – More Revenue with Least Impact
February 15, 2025: The Trump Administration Fair and Reciprocal Tariff Plan – A Backdoor to a New Era of Free Trade Agreements with the United States
On Thursday February 13, the White House released the Presidential Memorandum “Reciprocal Trade and Tariffs”. The Memorandum introduces the “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” (Plan) to impose “fair and reciprocal” tariffs on all countries that impose duties and other barriers on U.S. goods. Under the Plan, the Administration will review all tariff and non-tariff barriers against… Read more: February 15, 2025: The Trump Administration Fair and Reciprocal Tariff Plan – A Backdoor to a New Era of Free Trade Agreements with the United States