Trade tensions are heating up, and the economic fallout could be more complex than headline numbers suggest. When tariffs spike, consumers in importing countries typically absorb the initial cost—but the damage extends far beyond retail prices. A recent commentary from a top European policymaker highlighted a critical point: while tariff increases ultimately get passed to American shoppers, the blowback hits European and German markets hard too. Import taxes trigger retaliatory measures, squeeze corporate margins, and ripple through interconnected supply chains. For investors watching crypto markets, this matters—macroeconomic uncertainty, currency volatility, and capital flow disruptions often drive crypto trading patterns. When traditional markets face headwinds from trade policy, risk appetite shifts. That's why understanding these geopolitical economic crosscurrents is essential for anyone tracking asset allocation in uncertain times.