Even before Donald Trump shattered the idea of a western alliance over the weekend, an uneasy spectre had begun to roil through the global economy, with troubles brewing on at least three fronts.

Warren Buffett is celebrating the successes of Berkshire Hathaway’s companies last year and in the 60 years since he took over a struggling New England textile company and began converting it into a massive conglomerate.

"Tariffs are actually, we've had a lot of experience with them. They're an act of war, to some degree," Buffett said.