Tariffs work

Nation First outlines why Trump’s tariffs are exactly what the free world needs.

Dear friend,

You’ve heard the outrage. The headlines scream economic Armageddon. The commentariat is in meltdown. “Trump is bringing back tariffs!” they shriek. “He’s threatening the global order!” Good.

Because the so-called ‘global order’ has delivered nothing but decline for the West—and Trump’s tariffs are the long-overdue correction.

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• The globalist system has gutted Western industry, exploded debt, and left nations vulnerable—Trump’s tariffs are the correction we’ve needed for decades.

  • Tariffs generate massive revenue without taxing citizens, protect local jobs, and make foreign exploiters pay their share.

  • They slash trade deficits, rebuild domestic production, and reduce dangerous reliance on hostile regimes.

  • Tariffs are also strategic weapons—used to pressure foreign powers, defend free speech, and demand fair treatment.

  • Australia and other nations should follow Trump’s lead, not mock it—because sovereignty, strength, and survival are on the line.

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Let’s get one thing straight: the United States is drowning in debt. Over $34 trillion and climbing. The debt-to-GDP ratio is hovering around 120%—a level once reserved for failed economies. And the global system that led them there—the one championed by Davos technocrats, unelected World Bank bureaucrats, IMF enforcers, and World Economic Forum mouthpieces—is the same one that hollowed out their industry, shipped wealth offshore, and turned the greatest industrial economy in human history into a debt-addicted consumer shell.

Trump’s answer? Tariffs. Not to punish—but to reset.

By imposing tariffs—10%, 30%, even 54% on China—Trump is doing what Western leaders should have done decades ago. He’s creating a massive stream of federal revenue without raising taxes on American families. Instead of squeezing workers and producers, he’s making foreign corporations pay their way.

The logic is bulletproof. Widespread tariffs could generate hundreds of billions annually. That’s not speculation—it’s economic reality, provided trade volumes hold. And even if prices rise slightly, that’s a price worth paying. Better to pay a little more for locally made goods than pay everything in sovereignty to foreign slave-labour economies.

This isn’t new, either. Historically, tariffs were the primary way America funded its government—long before income tax was even conceived. They paid for infrastructure, national security, and growth. Trump isn’t breaking the rules—he’s returning to the foundation.

That’s the first blow against globalism: raising money without bleeding your own people dry.

But it doesn’t stop there.

Trump’s tariffs also strike at the heart of America’s $1 trillion trade deficit. That figure isn’t just staggering—it’s a strategic liability. A nation that consumes more than it produces, year after year, is a nation mortgaging its future. Every year, the U.S. sends a trillion dollars offshore—often to regimes that oppose its values—just to feed the consumption beast.

Tariffs flip the script. They discourage cheap imports, make domestic production competitive again, and keep more dollars at home. They reduce dependence on hostile creditors like China and Japan. And as domestic output rises, so does GDP—improving the debt-to-GDP ratio not by austerity, but by strength. Trump is attacking the disease, not the symptoms.

And there’s more. Tariffs are not just economic policy—they’re geopolitical weapons. Trump knows this. He’s using them to force hostile regimes and weak allies alike to the negotiating table. High tariffs can compel countries to buy American, open their markets, invest in U.S. industries, and yes—stop interfering with free speech.

Imagine telling a regime: if you want your tariff dropped, stop censoring American platforms like Meta and X. That’s the kind of leverage the West should be using, not surrendering. Some even suggest tariffs could be used to pressure debt-holding nations into forgiving or restructuring U.S. obligations in exchange for trade relief—turning America’s consumer market into a bargaining chip.

These aren’t wild theories. They’re strategic plays from a man who understands the long game.

And tariffs don’t just serve the nation—they protect the worker.

And I’ve seen that need firsthand.

When I was a Member of Parliament, a local manufacturer called me out to his facility. After showing me around—proud Aussie workers, clean operations, world-class products—he sat me down and got straight to the point:

“George, I can’t compete. I’m up against imports made by workers earning two dollars a day in countries with no safety standards. If nothing changes, I’ll be forced to close.”

That’s not competition. That’s sabotage.

Tariffs level the playing field. They say: if you want access to our markets, you’ll play by our rules. You’ll pay fair wages. You’ll meet safety standards. You won’t pollute and exploit just to undercut those who play fair. Trump is rebalancing the scales—and it’s about time.

The entire world seems to be wringing its hands and clutching at its pearls over the new Trump tariff regime—none more so than Australia, which is currently engaged in a federal election where both of its political leaders, left and right, are trying to outdo each other in criticisms of Trump. Yet, Australia is a great example of how, behind the political posturing and rhetoric of national leaders the world over, lies a fair bit of hypocrisy and, more so, indifference to the plight of its own people and industries.

So, ask yourself: why shouldn’t Australia do what Trump is doing?

We’ve lost our car industry. We import over 90% of our pharmaceuticals. Our fuel refining capacity is dangerously low. We rely on China for fertiliser, electronics, and defence manufacturing inputs. Our nation couldn’t fight a real war—or even sustain an economic shock—without foreign permission.

We’ve got critical industries—steel, agriculture, food processing—that have been bled dry by cheap imports and one-sided trade deals. Tariffs could be our lifeline. They could rebuild regional towns. Create secure, well-paid jobs. Make this country self-reliant again.

A sovereign nation should be able to feed itself, power itself, defend itself, and manufacture what it needs to survive. Tariffs make that possible.

But courage is exactly what Canberra lacks.

Instead, Canberra’s response is a mix of sanctimony and spinelessness. Our leaders would rather worship at the altar of the World Trade Organisation than defend our sovereign interests. They’re more interested in attending global summits than protecting Australian workers. And they’ll rage against Trump because he exposes their failure. He shows what leadership actually looks like.

As mentioned previously, there’s a fair bit of hypocrisy amidst all the hand-wringing about the new Trump tariff regime. In Australia, that hypocrisy is staggering.

These same leaders who condemn Trump for “protectionism” are the ones enforcing a 10% GST on personal imports—even when they’re not being resold. They impose a luxury car tax—targeting foreign vehicles, because nearly all luxury cars are imported. They’re happy to tax you but won’t lift a finger to protect your job from foreign exploitation.

And for what? So they can get a pat on the head from Davos?

Meanwhile, Trump is doing what every serious national leader should be doing. He’s reducing the trade deficit, boosting domestic production, raising revenue without hammering taxpayers, and reasserting American independence on the world stage. He’s wielding tariffs like the geopolitical weapons they are—demanding better trade terms, defending free speech, and turning the tide against economic globalism.

He’s not isolating America—he’s fortifying it.

And every nation that values its future should take notes.

This isn’t about nostalgia. It’s not about protectionism for the sake of it. It’s about survival. National survival. It’s about rebuilding strength, regaining control, and refusing to be a dumping ground for slave-made products wrapped in false virtue.

Trump’s tariffs are a threat—to globalists. Not to workers. Not to citizens. Not to nations who want their dignity back.

He’s leading the charge—and others will follow, if they have the courage.

It’s time to stop mocking. Time to start learning.

Protect your industries. Protect your workers. Defend your nation’s economic future.

Or be left behind.

Until next time, God bless you, your family and nation.

Take care,

George Christensen

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George Christensen is a former Australian politician, a Christian, freedom lover, conservative, blogger, podcaster, journalist and theologian. He has been feted by the Epoch Times as a “champion of human rights” and his writings have been praised by Infowars’ Alex Jones as “excellent and informative”.

George believes Nation First will be an essential part of the ongoing fight for freedom:

“The time is now for every proud patriot to step to the fore and fight for our freedom, sovereignty and way of life. Information is a key tool in any battle and the Nation First newsletter will be a valuable tool in the battle for the future of the West.”

— George Christensen.

Find more about George at his www.georgechristensen.com.au website.

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Authorised by G. Christensen, River Street, Mackay