The International Trade Union Confederation has condemned the Trump administration’s new trade tariffs, warning that the policies could spark a global trade war, lead to job losses, and increase consumer prices.
The tariffs, unveiled on April 2, mark an aggressive shift in United States trade policy, which ITUC argued prioritised national competition over international solidarity.
The global labour organisation condemned the move, describing it as a reckless economic manoeuvre that will disproportionately harm workers while benefiting corporate elites.
In a statement released on Thursday, ITUC reaffirmed that international trade should promote social justice, equitable economic growth, and the creation of decent jobs with fair wages and strong labour rights.
However, it warned that the U.S. government’s weaponisation of tariffs would have the opposite effect, exacerbating economic inequality and destabilising global markets.
ITUC’s General Secretary, Luc Triangle, said, “These tariffs are not part of any serious plan to support working people.
“The Trump administration has launched a trade war that will put workers’ jobs and livelihoods at stake. It will also lead to price increases, for which workers and consumers will bear the costs.”
He mentioned that the ITUC has long criticised unregulated free trade and corporate profiteering.
Also, Triangle argued that ITUC has fuelled a race to the bottom in wages and working conditions.
However, the ITUC boss sees Trump’s aggressive trade policies as an even greater threat, as the policies undermine multilateral trade agreements and hinder economic progress in developing nations.
The organisation warned that higher tariffs on imports would act as a regressive tax on working people by increasing production costs, which companies are likely to pass on to consumers.
It also emphasised that trade restrictions would prevent other countries from developing their economies fairly, widening global economic disparities.
“With his attacks on workers—from breaking unions to cutting public services and laying off tens of thousands of unionised workers in the U.S.—Donald Trump has shown that his intention is not to create more jobs, but rather to advance a billionaire extreme-right agenda,” Triangle stated.
The ITUC pledged to monitor the impact of the tariffs and continue advocating for a fairer trade system that prioritises workers’ rights over corporate profits.
He concluded by stressing the importance of Nigeria keeping pace with global technological advancements.
“As technology progresses in the world, I don’t think we in Nigeria, as a giant of Africa, should be left behind. We need this type of infrastructure running. Very large-scale topographical map, which is a foundation for digital twins. And a digital twin is a foundation for a smart city,” he said.
