Marketplace All-in-One Tariff whack-a-mole
Mar 13, 2026
Megan McCarty Carino, Marketplace markets reporter tracking prediction-market regulation. Rose Mora-Laurie, Wirecutter writer who tests products for safety and counterfeits. Nova Safo, trade reporter covering tariffs and trade probes. They dig into new trade investigations targeting dozens of countries. They also discuss counterfeit skincare on e‑retailers and growing scrutiny of prediction markets.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Administration Uses Trade Probes To Reimpose Tariffs
- The Trump administration is using trade investigations as a workaround to reinstate tariffs after the Supreme Court struck down prior measures.
- Nova Safo reports the administration launched Section 301 probes into allies like Canada, Mexico, the UK and EU to seek new, country-specific tariffs or remedies.
WhackAMole Strategy With Temporary Then Permanent Tariffs
- The administration's strategy is 'whack-a-mole': temporary tariffs first, then legal routes under Section 232 and Section 301 for permanence.
- Experts told Nova Safo investigators aim to finish probes and set new tariffs before temporary measures expire in July.
Different Legal Routes Produce Different Tariff Outcomes
- Section 232 and Section 301 provide different legal rationales: one national security, the other a broad 'unfair trade' scope.
- Josh Kagan and Ryan Young note tariffs from these probes are likely and could vary by country or take alternative forms like trade deals.