President Trump's whirlwind decision to upend global trade

Somebody or bodies are backgrounding. Leaking, in other words. Plus, comments from diplomats of the affected economies.

I don't personally read very much "why" in this piece. It's much more "this is just what he wants to do and doesn't give a shit about the effect in the short term"

There are many "why" reasons. They're transactional as always. End British NHS and chlorine chicken issues. End Australian beef, steel and aluminium issues. End the rotten trade imbalance with Norfolk Island.