Copy of Sentinel V22 #31-Post Easter Break

Trade and Taxes Still Dominates, Food On Some Minds

Steve Dittmer | AFF Sentinel

Colorado Springs, CO

Originally sent to subscribers 04/28/25

Congress is getting back to D.C. this week and, we’re sure working some through the holiday break, following now with the serious business of finding spending cuts.

Meanwhile, President Trump has been busy exercising his two styles of politics: 1) following through on “promises made, promises kept” actions and 2) tormenting leftists and negotiating partners with varying approaches to problems so that they haven’t a clue as to where he would settle.

The media hasn’t a clue anyway, as logic and history and principle is nowhere within their capability, so they just declare everything chaos and assume Trump has no plan or goals. That last is more grasping at straws than reality. Trump has had four years to assemble a crack team, make sure they’re fully on his side and make the plans they are executing. The first few weeks have spoiled people into thinking everything can be accomplished in short order but that’s not reality.

We are kind of used to Trump’s methods but even when he lets the cat out of the bag, the Democrats’ don’t get it. The Trump 2028 ball caps are a great example. They assume he means he’ll run again. Or maybe he means some Trump will run in 2028. In the meantime, it’s fun for him. We wonder if he teases his grandkids like that.

The data about consumer spending continues to show little effect of consumer worries about the economy. They are concerned but most haven’t shaved total spending. But within the increase in retail spending, things have shifted to more spending on cars and electronics people guess could be affected by tariffs.



Multiple stories about spending didn’t even mention food. Perhaps that’s because food prices went up by 0.5 percent in March and two percent since March 2024. Food away from home increased 0.4 in March and 3.8 percent from March 2024. The trends are better than the last four years, though not a cake walk.

That must mean consumers are relieved prices aren’t increasing at the rate of a couple of years ago and while they aren’t happy with the cost of food, they are somewhat used to the levels. Gas prices are down more than food and that helps ease the pressure on food prices.

People may be getting smarter, too. A recent story in the Wall Street Journal explained how Chili’s had menu offerings of bigger burgers, sides and a drink that was barely more than fast good combos, excluding a tip. We discovered that a year ago and, evidently, we’re not the only ones.

Of course, the edge that some casual dining chains have is that buying an adult beverage is an option some will take and that makes the profit. Guess who sells the most tequila than any restaurant chain, to the tune of 28 million margaritas from 1,200 restaurants? Yep, Chili’s.

As for the tariff question, the Trump team holds that India will likely be the first deal announced. They are one of the highest tariffed and have one of the longest list of non-tariff trade barriers. The Trump team may be hoping to close that deal to show other countries that if India can do it, so should they. South Korea may be pretty soon but Japan is dragging their feet, as is to be expected from a very deliberate nation.

The Trump team said over the weekend that they are working from a template, with categories for: tariffs and quotas; non-tariff barriers; digital trade; rules of origin for products and economic security and other commercial issues, according to a Wall Street Journal article.

They have set up a rotation of six nations per week, for three weeks in a row, to negotiate deals with 18 of the most important countries first. The rotation would repeat, if necessary.

There has been some sparring between Trump and China as to whether they are talking to each other. Trump is known as a master negotiator but the Chinese are not known as pushovers either. Their style is different however. Trump has said they are talking to the Chinese but offering no details. The Chinese spokesmen have denied they are talking to the U.S. but with dozens of Chinese bureaucrats in Washington talking to U.S. bureaucrats every day, that’s not believable. It is likely true that no formal official trade talks are occurring but both sides are talking and probing and forming strategies.

In fact, it seems like another negotiating tactic is claiming the U.S. has not said what it wants. The U.S. evidently is waiting for the other side to make offers first

The EU is one bloc claiming it doesn’t know what the U.S. wants. The Administration says that’s not true. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking.

The EU has said it won’t negotiate its value-added tax or its agricultural subsidies. Sounds like they already know where the target is.

Next time: What is China facing?



Our address: Agribusiness Freedom Foundation, P.O. Box 88179, Colorado Springs, CO. 80908.

To support the work of AFF, you can contribute with any major credit cards here:

To make a contribution via credit card, click here:

Or,



If you wish to use your Paypal acct. click below:

Paypal link

---