In late August, the federal government inflicted a major and needless price rise on Americans. Its decision was not broadcast in a presidential address or announced in a White House statement. Rather, the Bureau of Industry and Security slipped it out in a list of product codes incomprehensible to non-specialists.

The schedule contained 407 new categories of goods that would, from Aug. 18, be subject to the 50% tariffs previously declared on steel and aluminum.