Weekly civic intelligence report · v2.2
Trump imposed tariffs on Indian goods, contributing to deterioration of US-India relations. This represents escalation of trade tensions.
Tariff imposition is executive policy within presidential authority under trade laws. Constitutional damage minimal: rule_of_law(1) for potential arbitrary application, separation(1) for executive trade powers debate, capture(2) for potential special interest influence. Severity modifiers near neutral - tariffs are reversible policy. Mechanism modifier 1.15 for policy_change, scope 1.2 for international but affects US constitutional norms minimally. Base score 0.86, final A-score 1.3. B-score elevated due to Trump-tariff media pattern (outrage_bait:6, media_friendliness:7), pattern_match(6) to ongoing trade war narrative. Layer2 strategic elements present but modest. Final B-score 19.3. Classification: Noise - A-score far below 25 threshold, represents routine executive trade policy without meaningful constitutional mechanism, international scope dilutes domestic constitutional impact.
Monitor for escalation into constitutional crisis (e.g., Congress challenging executive trade authority, judicial review of tariff legality, retaliation affecting civil liberties). Current event is standard trade policy friction.