Unilateral tariffs are a loser. Tariffs to make trade fair are necessary. If China is imposing tariffs, we have a good reason to do something about it. It could be reciprocal tariffs or financial breaks to domestic outfits.
What I was talking about is unilateral tariffs based purely on a trade imbalance when both nations are on level ground.
One must remember, not every nation is most efficient in production of everything. To prosper industrially we must focus on things we are most productive at. For example no one can compete with quality of mechanical watches made in Switzerland. It would be fool hardy for us to impose tariffs on such watches.
Good points. The problem hasn’t been free trade, its been unfair trade where our markets were open and our trading partners kept our products out.
Global corporations wanting to expand their markets in Asia sell out American technology by convincing our elected officials like Clinton and other in both Parties to sell out the USA. I call them Trojan Horses because their interests may be in total conflict with US sovereignty and security. There is a good article in WSJ or Forbes about Boeing cutting its throat by outsourcing major sub assemblies of the 787.
We’ve been led down a rosey path that corporate multi nationalism and one way trade is good for the USA when by most measures it has not been good.