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Nawaal Nackerdien/Fourth Estate

BY BRIAN A. HAYUM, STAFF WRITER

Interest rates. Gross domestic product. Supply and demand. Americans are subject to financial terms that have major implications for their financial health. At the outset of President Trump’s second presidential term, the term “tariff” has become a staple of the Trump administration’s foreign economic policy. 

Tariff refers to a tax placed on imported goods and services. That tax represents a percentage of the price of the product being imported. For example, if the U.S. were to place tariffs of 10 percent on baguettes imported from France, a $10 loaf would be charged a tax of $1 when it arrives at the border. To offset costs, price increases are passed down to the consumer. 

On Feb. 1,  The White House announced that President Trump will implement a 25% additional tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10% additional tariff on imports from China. President Trump said the increased tariffs is a retaliatory strike against all three countries’ response to the U.S. fentanyl crisis. “The extraordinary threat posed by illegal aliens and drugs, including deadly fentanyl, constitutes a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).” The announcement added that the tariffs will remain in place until “the crisis is alleviated.”

In response, leaders from all three countries are considering potential action to defend against the effects of these tariffs. These measures could come in the form of retaliatory tariffs, according to the BBC. Canada prepared a list of American goods with the intention of imposing retaliatory tariffs in response to the U.S. 

Canada’s Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand recently said in an interview that Canada is “steady at the wheel.” Further stating that, “We are prepared for any eventuality, but we will at every turn defend our country’s economy.”

“In modern times, they [tariffs] have almost always been used as a negotiating tool,” said The New York Times White House Correspondent, David E. Sanger. “What makes President Trump’s move against Mexico, Canada, and China different is that he seems uninterested in pursuing deals,” Sanger writes. 

Trump argued that these tariffs will curb the flow of immigrants and drugs while simultaneously enriching American citizens.

In his inaugural speech, Trump said, “I will immediately begin the overhaul of our trade system to protect American workers and families. Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens.” 

However, George Mason Economy Professor, Alex Tabarrok, argued that these tariffs will do the opposite. 

“I think people have this idea that tariffs are about protecting American businesses, protecting jobs, but it’s important to recognize that this also raises the costs of American businesses,” said Tabarrok. “We have benefited tremendously from globalization. Walk into your local supermarket and look at all of the products and you’ll see that they’re from all over the world.” 

According to a report by the USDA, “Canada and Mexico are the United States’ first and third largest suppliers of U.S. agricultural imports.” The tariffs, Tabarrok argues, will hurt all three North American countries. “We have integrated the Canadian, U.S. and Mexican economies to the benefit of all three. So, to now disrupt that is just creating chaos and uncertainty, and it’s making our allies upset.” 

Evidence of this integration is seen in the auto industry, Tabarrok explains. “It is very common for auto parts to cross the border multiple times. So, the engine moves from Canada to the U.S. and they put in some seats… then the car moves back to another plant in Canada… back to the U.S., and then it might go to Mexico.” These tariffs not only disrupt the integration of these economies, but they also have precedents that show their ineffectiveness. 

Emma Schaible/Fourth Estate

During Trump’s first term, economic research by the Associated Press found the total tariffs collected by his policies equaled less than 0.3% of GDP. 

Recently, The White House announced that a 25% tariff on steel imports would be restored and an existing tariff on aluminum imports would be raised to 25%. A call by the Trump administration to “protect America’s critical steel and aluminum industries, which have been harmed by unfair trade practices and global excess capacity.”

Tabarrok said otherwise, “It is not the case that tariffs save jobs, they save some jobs, but they also kill other jobs.”

Tabarrok said in continuation, “They save jobs in the import-competing industry, but they kill jobs in the export industry. The problem is that the jobs in the import industry are very visible but the jobs you kill in the export industry are much harder to see.” 

Companies and their investors have started bracing for the potential rising costs due to these tariffs, which are set to take effect on Mar. 4. According to a report by Goldman Sachs, “For the stock market, every five-percentage-point increase in the U.S. tariff rate is estimated to reduce S&P 500 earnings per share by roughly 1-2%.” Resulting in potential price increases from large-scale companies, layoffs, business shutdowns, and more.

Nawaal Nackerdien/Fourth Estate

BY LAYLA BIZRI, STAFF WRITER

As a biology pre-med student in the Honors College at Mason, I know first-hand how challenging it is to find a quiet study space on a consistent basis—especially as a commuter.

Certain class time slots can run up to ten p.m. at night, well beyond an average work day. Every time I leave my long labs and head to Fenwick Library (Fenwick), I average one or two hours of productive work before the loudspeaker announces the library is closing. It’s frustrating and discouraging, especially when I’m locked into a deep study session, only to be forced to stop.

Mason emphasizes academic success and student empowerment yet lacks a key resource that so many other universities provide: a 24/7 library. Many students, both commuters and those living on campus, share this same frustration. 

“I study and grasp concepts better at night when there are fewer distractions. The fact that Fenwick isn’t open 24/7 is borderline insulting—many other institutions provide late-night library access, yet George Mason falls short once again. I’m not asking for special treatment; I’m asking for access to a study space that my tuition helps fund,” said sophomore Pierre Faransis, who is on the Pre-Dentistry track at Mason.

For many, Fenwick is the only place where they can focus without distractions, but with its current hours and limitations, that opportunity is cut short. With over 40,000 students at Mason, the small lobby space—one of the only areas open slightly later—can’t come close to meeting demand. 

And with Fenwick being the only library on Fairfax campus, students have no alternative when they need a quiet place to study at the times that work best for them.

At first, I thought this was just a personal struggle. But after bringing it up with classmates and friends, I realized it was a much bigger issue. No one seemed to know why Fenwick wasn’t open later. 

I saw that a lot of students felt the same way, so I figured I would try to do something about it. I don’t have any experience with student government or any process regarding making changes to the university, but I started a petition (which can also be found below) to get students talking. When people started signing and sharing it, it became clear that this was a significant issue that needed attention. There are 75 signatures so far!

I plan to attend student cabinet meetings and continue advocating for this issue to escalate progress. Mason should attempt to maintain an environment that supports student success at all hours, not just during the most convenient times. Education doesn’t have a time limit, and neither should our access to the resources that help us succeed.

The students have spoken. It’s time for change.

https://www.petitions.net/make_fenwick_library_open_247_for_student_success