Hiya
@gazdgazd11
Thanks for clarifying! To effectively address King & Spalding’s prompt, you’ll need to narrow your focus. Is there a specific set of tariffs you have in mind? Since taking office, the Trump administration has made several announcements, including a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, a reduced 10% tariff on Canadian energy resources (currently set to take effect in March, but not yet entirely clear if this will happen), and a 10% tariff on imports from China. There are also tariffs on specific products, such as aluminium and steel, which are likely to have a major impact on supply chains and consumers. A good starting point would be to briefly describe the tariffs you’re focusing on, outlining their scope and the industries most affected.
The second part of the question asks why
you find these developments interesting. You don't need to say specifically how it affects King & Spalding or its clients, but you may want to allude to these. You might be drawn to how tariffs disrupt established supply chains, influence market dynamics, and reshape economic relationships between countries. If you can connect this to your personal experience or interests, that would strengthen your response. For example, I’m originally from Canada, and the threat of tariffs has directly affected people in my life - friends who work in the auto industry have faced significant uncertainty, and everyone I know has been worried about rising costs on products. What I’ve found particularly interesting is the Canadian government’s response and how they’ve worked to mitigate the impact of these tariffs without causing further economic strain. Your own reasons might be different. Maybe you’re interested in the legal side (e.g. how businesses respond to tariffs, how trade disputes play out politically between countries, etc). Whatever your angle, the key is to articulate why this topic genuinely interests you in a way that reflects your perspective.
In terms of structure, you could take the following approach:
- Introduction: Briefly introduce the recent tariffs imposed by President Trump, highlighting their scope and the sectors most affected.
- Impact on certain sectors: Discuss how these tariffs are expected to influence certain industries, and presumably you can focus on energy and construction here. For instance, the construction industry relies heavily on materials like steel and aluminium, which are subject to increased costs due to tariffs. The escalation in material costs can quickly lead to higher project expenses and potential delays. You can also briefly mention here how the tariffs might disrupt global supply chains, leading to increased costs and delays in project timelines. The energy sector, for example, could face challenges with the importation of critical components, affecting production and distribution.
- Personal Reflection: I'd conclude by articulating your personal interest in the topic. Here you'll want to emphasise your fascination with how such policy decisions can have considerable effects on global industries, economies, and legal practices. This will ensure that you've adequately addressed the second part of the prompt and showcase genuine interest with the tariff(s) you've chosen to discuss.
This advice is just to get you going. Hope this helps and good luck with the application!
