Is there any rhyme or reason to what seems like the latest episode of “Tariffs Gone Wild”? This question hovers over European policymakers as the United States, under its bombastic showman-in-chief, slaps tariffs on nations left, right, and centre—with allies sometimes catching it worse than adversaries. I’ve got my theories, and while crystal balls are hard to come by, indulge me as I unravel what might be the method behind the madness. And, oh Europe—especially you, Germany—take notes.

Donald Trump, that mercurial maestro of the deal, might seem like he’s winging it as usual, but brushing off his trade manoeuvres as mere presidential quirkiness would be a rookie mistake. The current US administration is hurtling forward like a bull in a china shop, but what they might be doing is classic Schumpeterian “creative destruction”, dear readers. Imagine, if you will, a world where horse-drawn carriages still monopolize the roads, and Walkmans are the apex of audio-tech—yes, that’s what happens without innovation that charitably obliterates the old.

Indeed, Uncle Sam appears to be applying this fresh paint of creative destruction, not just to the economy but to the very framework of governance. The sneered-at “Department of Government Efficiency” is scattering the legacies of outdated bureaucrats to the winds, perhaps thinking new nimble bureaucracies will somehow rise phoenix-like from the ashes.