Can someone please explain to me why these trade tariffs are such a good thing?

[Anonymous]

No other left or right wing government will use them, so why does Trump think they will work?

[Effably]

It simply depends on the goal. These trade tariffs will not make USA wealthier.

Tariffs are primarily a means to protectbthe local industry. Most of the time the agricultural industry.

In this case, with the severity of them, it seems they are intended to completely cut trade with... much of the world, in order to boost American domestic industry.

This is basically going to make 99 percent of americans poorer. Reduce quality of living but with a resurgence in local industry USA will be able to manufacture their own cars again, or weapons, at mass.

Beyond that Trump advisors have acknowledged that it is primarily intended as a scare tactic and negotatiating tool.

So the hoped for outcome is,
1. It will boost US industry at the cost of US living quality.
2. This can be offset by strongarming other countries into favourable trade deals.

In the best of worlds for USA they emerge stronger, with a much increased war potential and far less vulnerable to other countries.

In a world where even civilians see through it, there is no world where the rest of the world goes along with it and so USA either backs down or swallows a heavy hit in economic ability to regain basic industry.

There. Pretty much neutrally stated.

[Syntosi]

To put it bluntly, there is a place for tariffs to protect local businesses but it has to be handled very carefully and historically it has had very dubious results AT BEST.

But that is irrelevant. Because this is Trump. Trump does not do all this "thinking" or "planning". He is a simple man with childish, if not irrational logic. Trump has somehow gotten it into his head that tariffs is a tax on "other countries" which means that USA could in theory enrich itself off of other nations. He is also very fond of having leverage over other nations both for negotiations and probably also just to feel big and important.

Point is that I doubt he has any grander plans than these. He thinks it is free money and he likes the idea of it. End of story.

[exitseven]

We need to bring good jobs back to America. For decades foreign countries have imposed tariffs on US made goods like automobiles and farm products preventing the US from selling them in their countries. Since the 80s entire industries have closed and the middle class has been hollowed out.
Foreign countries have already pledged billions of dollars in investment capital to build new plants in the US. These will result in thousands of construction jobs and then many more good paying manufacturing jobs.

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO

[jshm2]

They aren't.

Trump thinks he's a big time hustler instead of the big time clown he is.

He thought he could shake down the world like he has the Republican party. He forgot the Republicans are cowards and geriatric fools, the world is not.

[David318578]

The tariffs hurt both parties, but the US is rich enough to endure it, so it's a great bargaining tool to get more lucrative and fair trade deals done.

If the tariffs are just put in place permanently then Trump is a complete moron, but if he is using them as a bargaining tactic then it can be very effective.

Trump has a LOT of flaws, but money and the economy he was really good at his first go around so will see how it goes

[Anonymous]

I just hope Congress will pass a bill to overturn this idiot's tariffs. Trump is the worst president. He ruined the economy in his first term and has already ruined the economy in only two months of his second. I hope his poor and uneducated supporters got what they wanted. LOL

[DrPepper12]

He's stuck in the 70s. He's a moron. He's a narcissist. He has no adults around him. GOP is a cult. And lots more

[seeyounexttuesday]

Why should US goods be subject to tariffs from other countries?

[Anonymous]

My political opinions match the views of Rick Wiles of Faith & Values/TruNews

[princeofromance]

They're not.