Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced that he is slapping a 25% increase on electricity exports to the U.S. in response to Trump's trade war. While this certainly has a shock value, will this affect the American people?
Likely not. What will affect the American people is billions and billions of foreign investment coming into our nation.
When President Donald Trump first imposed tariffs on foreign imports, his critics were quick to declare economic doom. They warned of higher consumer prices, trade wars, and economic isolation.
Yet, as the dust settles, one reality is becoming increasingly clear: tariffs are not just a negotiating tool or a short-term pressure tactic. They are a strategic measure that is helping to drive investment back into the United States, reinvigorating domestic industries, and reshaping the American economy for the better.
For too long, America has allowed its industrial base to erode, sacrificing jobs and entire communities to the false promises of globalization. Free trade agreements, once touted as pathways to prosperity, often became mechanisms for American companies to offshore production in search of cheaper labor.
The result was devastating: hollowed-out manufacturing towns, stagnant wages, and an overreliance on foreign supply chains that left the U.S. vulnerable, especially in critical industries.
Trump’s tariffs upended this status quo. By placing levies on imports from countries like China and Mexico, the administration has made it clear that America will no longer be a dumping ground for foreign-made goods produced under conditions that undermine fair competition.
The results speak for themselves. Just recently, Eli Lilly announced a $27 billion investment in four new manufacturing plants in the United States. The company cited the looming threat of tariffs on drug imports as a key factor in its decision to build domestically. This is precisely how tariffs are meant to work: by tilting the economic equation in favor of American production.
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And Eli Lilly is far from alone. French-based shipping firm CMA announced it will invest $20 billion in the United States to build out shipping logistics and terminals and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company announced a historic $100 billion investment — the largest foreign direct investment in U.S. history.
Even Apple, a company long associated with overseas manufacturing, has pledged $430 billion in investments and Siemens announced plans to invest $285 million in U.S. manufacturing. The company says it will open facilities for electrical products in Texas and California. It will create 900 skilled manufacturing jobs.
This isn’t an isolated trend. Across industries, companies are reassessing their reliance on foreign supply chains and shifting production back to U.S. soil.
What many fail to recognize is that a significant number of these tariffs will never even go into effect. President Trump understands the power of economic leverage and often uses the mere threat of tariffs as a tool to achieve broader policy goals.
Of course, the naysayers continue to argue that tariffs raise prices for consumers. What they fail to mention is that the long-term benefits far outweigh the short-term costs.
By imposing tariffs, Trump signaled that these tactics would no longer go unchallenged. The tariffs forced China to the negotiating table and helped secure better trade terms for American workers. They also sent a clear message to other nations that the U.S. will protect its economic interests rather than play by outdated globalist rules that benefit foreign competitors at our expense.
The road ahead will not be without challenges. Some industries will take time to fully adapt to the new trade landscape, and global markets will continue to react. But the foundation being laid today is one that will pay dividends for decades to come.
In the end, the real question is not whether tariffs are working—it’s whether America has the political will to continue on this path. The early signs suggest that the strategy is delivering exactly what was promised: a stronger, more independent, and more resilient American economy.
Those who still doubt the power of tariffs might want to take a closer look at the factories reopening, the jobs returning, and the investments pouring into America. The evidence is right in front of them.
Bob Rubin is the Founder and President of Rubin Wealth Advisors. Learn more at www.rubinwa.com
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