The extremely flawed logic behind Trump’s chaotic trade war

President Donald Trump often champions major corporate investments as evidence that his economic agenda is starting to work.

President Donald Trump often champions major corporate investments as evidence that his economic agenda is starting to work. But his chaotic policymaking could have the opposite effect: It could paralyze businesses. It’s hard to imagine a more chaotic and murky environment than the opening act of this Trump presidency. And for CEOs to commit billions of dollars in years-long projects in America, they need stability and clarity. Markets are melting down (except when they’re melting up on false rumors), trade war turbulence is off the charts, and consumer confidence is plunging. “Without a doubt, this could freeze things rather than spur investment,” said John Graham, finance professor at Duke University. These days, it’s difficult for CEOs to know what’s going to happen in the next 10 minutes, let alone the next 10 months. They may opt to cancel hiring plans, or even lay off workers. For every company that decides to invest in a factory to avoid tariffs, another may be too nervous to spend at all.