Trump’s Tariff Chaos Pushes U.S. Manufacturers to the Brink, Echoing COVID-Era Disruptions

American manufacturers are issuing dire warnings: Donald Trump’s chaotic tariff strategy is pushing the economy toward a crisis on par with the COVID-19 supply chain collapse.

All indicators are flashing red. “The administration’s tariffs alone have created supply chain disruptions rivaling those of the COVID-19 pandemic,” an electrical equipment manufacturer told the Institute for Supply Management.

According to a new Axios report, the damage is mounting. Manufacturers are now experiencing the longest lead times for essential components in two years, soaring costs, and widespread production delays. Meanwhile, demand for products is weakening—an ominous combination threatening the viability of businesses across the country.

“It is not normal to see weak demand and lengthening lead times at the same time,” explained Jason Miller, a professor of supply chain management at Michigan State University.

The automotive sector is particularly hard-hit. Some assembly lines are being temporarily shut down, with at least one automaker halting production entirely due to supply shortages.

At the heart of the disruption is Trump’s erratic and unpredictable tariff policy. Manufacturers report being unable to make long-term plans as tariffs are imposed, lifted, or threatened with no clear rationale or notice. That uncertainty is causing widespread delays and cancellations.

While critics have mocked the inconsistency of Trump’s trade tactics with the viral “TACO” meme—Trump Always Chickens Out—the real-world consequences are no laughing matter. The uncertainty is wreaking havoc on supply chains and destabilizing the broader economy.

Tensions are rising within the manufacturing sector as companies debate who should absorb the cost of tariffs. Trump’s own phrasing—“eat the tariffs”—has only intensified the pressure. But in reality, much of that cost is inevitably being passed on to American consumers.

Perhaps most concerning is that the damage may be irreversible in the near term—even if the tariffs were suddenly removed. “If the president wakes up tomorrow and says ‘this is over,’ you would see a huge boom—and delivery times would get even longer. That would be like throwing gasoline on a fire,” said Miller.

“Supply chains don’t untangle overnight,” he added. “Once they’re knotted up, it takes a long time to recover.”

Despite ongoing negotiations with foreign governments, the Trump administration has made little progress in removing the tariffs or providing clarity. As a result, American businesses remain trapped in a volatile trade environment—one largely of MAGA’s own making.