As countries debate how to respond, the pain threshold that might matter most is not Trump’s but that of his fellow Republicans, especially those in Congress who have the ability to stop and reverse these tariffs. At what point will they feel enough pressure from their voters, with their dwindling savings, to move against the president?

Even if that day comes sooner than expected, one thing is for certain: One of the biggest costs of Trump’s trade war is the trust of other countries in America as a stable, reliable pillar of global trade.