Christian Briggs says tariffs, sanctions are leverage in U.S. talks with Canada, China and Iran

Economist Christian Briggs told NTD News that Washington is using tariffs, sanctions and market access as negotiating tools, not just punishment, in disputes involving Canada, China and Iran. He said the outcome could shape trade, energy flows and inflation across multiple economies.

Why it matters: - Briggs argues the U.S. is using economic pressure to force negotiations, not just to escalate conflict. - The approach could affect trade with Canada, sanctions on Iran, China’s energy ties and global oil markets. - Prolonged disputes can raise costs for consumers, businesses and exporters through tariffs, weaker currencies and energy disruptions.

What happened: - Christian Briggs, economist and CEO of Hard Asset Management, joined NTD News to discuss the tariff fight between the United States and Canada. - Canada has answered new U.S. tariffs with about $20 billion in retaliatory measures on American goods. - Briggs said President Donald Trump is treating tariffs as a negotiating instrument aimed at more reciprocal trade agreements. - Briggs also discussed U.S. pressure on Iran, China’s role as an Iranian oil buyer and the strategic risk around the Strait of Hormuz. - The full NTD News interview is available on YouTube.

The details: - Briggs said Canada enters the dispute from a weaker economic position because the U.S. economy is much larger. - Briggs said Canada’s trade protections, including tariffs and quota limits on some American farm goods such as dairy, are part of Washington’s case for reciprocity. - Canada has announced retaliatory measures and financial support for workers and industries hit by the dispute. - Briggs said subsidies may offer short-term relief, but they do not replace a stable long-term trading relationship. - Briggs said the Canadian dollar adds another pressure point because a weaker currency makes imports more expensive and can add inflation pressure. - That currency effect matters more for industries that rely on imported materials, equipment, energy or consumer products priced in stronger foreign currencies. - Briggs said Canada has a strong incentive to strike a deal rather than let the confrontation drag on. - On Iran, Briggs said oil exports remain central to Tehran’s revenue and China is one of the biggest buyers of Iranian crude. - Restricting that trade can limit Iran’s access to foreign currency and raise pressure on the Iranian government. - Briggs said sanctions on Chinese entities are possible, but direct talks between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping may come first. - Briggs said China presents a bigger challenge than smaller economies because it is a major U.S. trading partner and a key player in manufacturing, finance and energy. - Briggs said the Strait of Hormuz matters because disruptions can ripple through oil markets, shipping, inflation and the global economy.

Between the lines: - Briggs’s framework treats tariffs, sanctions, currency moves and energy policy as parts of the same negotiating playbook. - The analysis suggests Washington is trying to raise the economic cost of resisting U.S. demands until talks become more attractive than confrontation. - The Iran and China piece shows the limits of pressure tactics when the target is a large economy with deep global ties. - Briggs also said recent Iranian comments about negotiations may reflect rising pressure inside Tehran rather than a true breakthrough.

What's next: - Briggs said the next phase of the Canada dispute should end in a deal because neither side benefits from open-ended escalation. - U.S. policy toward Iran will likely hinge on whether economic pressure can be tightened without destabilizing energy markets. - Any move against Chinese entities tied to Iranian oil could depend on whether Washington chooses negotiation first or further sanctions first. - Briggs said future clashes may be decided more at the negotiating table than on a battlefield.

The bottom line: - Briggs sees economic leverage as the new center of gravity in U.S. foreign policy, with tariffs and sanctions used to win concessions before conflicts harden.