Reciprocal Tariffs and Global Trade Dynamics: Reassessing U.S. 2025 Trade Policy Through an International Political Economy Lens

The 2025 U.S. shift to reciprocal tariffs marks a deliberate move from economic reciprocity to politically driven protectionism. Framed by populist themes of equity and sovereignty, the policy masks distributional costs, including inflation, supply chain disruptions, and reduced industrial competitiveness. Beneath the rhetoric lie electoral motivations and nationalist pressures rather than genuine trade rebalancing. Global reprisals have escalated, undermining U.S. trade credibility and jeopardizing alliances. A multi-scalar analysis reveals the disparity between justification and execution. The return of retaliatory tariffs reflects a broader politicization and securitization of trade, demanding a revised International Political Economy framework for a fragmented global order. Received: 30 July 2025 / Accepted: 23 August 2025 / Published: 12 September 2025