I’m agnostic on whether they are good or bad for trade and/or the steel industry. I’ll let others who know more than I do argue it out.
But I do think there could be additional reasons for the tariffs. Not just the surface reasons.
So far my only “complaint” about Trump is that he’s too slow. Actually he seems to be getting things done at warp speed, but I am super impatient.
There is a yuge backlog of people waiting to be confirmed by the senate.
Contact McConnell and encourage him to move them along
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactform
“but I am super impatient.
+1
Tariffs are by design protectionist in nature. Industry likes tariffs as a means to relieve them of the need to improve, innovate, compete (low costs) while locking in profits due to a captive market.
Governments should use tariffs to protect internal ability to manufacture weapons of war and to provide needed necessities for the citizenry. To import cheap products that can be made at home is to create the very welfare state that robs a nation of its wealth and to underdevelope its own natural resources.
When a nation must import goods it should only be until the nation can provide for itself a tariff may be used to finance the introduction of the new industry.
When tariffs are used properly they protect the nation and its economy but do not stifle innovation and creativity. Therefore the nation must define those industries and resources necessary to protect to keep the nation strong and free, but refrain from crony capitalism that Meeks laws that favor existing companies/goods by restricting internal startups and competition in the market.
Trade strategically critical goods and commodities where we lose production capability is in and of itself bad. As Ive discussed with many Freepers here over the years, its a strategic issue. We cant supervise and control quality production from other countries nor can we depend on a trade partner during times of war. Same thing with the oil pipline and centralizing all of our major refineries. Strategically foolish and intended to weaken us. For example, the chinese make many of our components for military equipment and we do not have the capability to produce those here. Do you suppose they will continue if we should go to war against their interests?