Tariffs and trade wars: a history of economic warfare
Frank Trentmann explores the long history of economic warfare and considers whether today's tariffs are as historically unprecedented as we might think

Published: April 2, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Trade wars and tariffs have once again been making headlines in recent weeks, as US president Donald Trump's government adopts combative economic policies. But are such approaches really that unusual? Speaking to Matt Elton, Frank Trentmann looks back at centuries of economic warfare – and reveals the historical factors that have sparked it.
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Authors

Matt EltonDeputy Editor, BBC History Magazine
Matt Elton is BBC History Magazine’s Deputy Editor. He has worked at the magazine since 2012 and has more than a decade’s experience working across a range of history brands.
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