Trump Tariff Reversal Feeds Reputation as Trade Paper Tiger (1)

President Donald Trump pledged hundreds of billions in tariffs to remake the global economy and target even his closest neighbors.

But so far, it’s been more Art of the Deal than a revolution.

Trump on Monday shelved plans for wide-ranging tariffs on Canada and Mexico, after doing the same for Colombia the prior week. In each case, Trump relented despite countries promising only modest changes on border security and immigration.

Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office on Feb. 3.

Photographer: Chris Kleponis/CNP/Bloomberg

Trump and his allies have held up those concessions as vindication of his approach. But the US president’s willingness - at least for now - to hold off on ...