Trade Balance: The Global Cost of Tariffs

Trade Balance: The Global Cost of Tariffs explores how tariffs are reshaping the global economy, one product at a time. From wine in Spain to smartphones assembled in China, this documentary reveals how modern supply chains span continents, and how trade barriers send ripple effects through industries and economies. Even everyday goods are caught in the crossfire, with tariffs driving up costs, disrupting production, and forcing businesses to adapt.

In Spain, a winemaker’s global ambitions are challenged by new trade policies. Meanwhile, the documentary traces the international journey of an iPhone, showing how one device depends on parts from multiple countries. In China’s appliance hub of Cixi, factories are turning inward as U.S. tariffs shrink export opportunities. And in the auto industry, where vehicles rely on parts sourced worldwide, new tariffs threaten to stall the flow of manufacturing and raise prices for consumers.

The film also highlights iconic brands like Harley-Davidson, which builds motorcycles in the U.S., Brazil, and Thailand. With tariffs complicating cross-border production, even legacy companies face hard choices. Trade Balance delivers a powerful message: in today’s deeply interconnected world, no economy is isolated. Tariffs may be tools of national policy, but their consequences are global.

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