The VAT is a consumption tax, as are the sales and excise taxes we have in the U.S. It doesn’t matter, from that perspective, that the VAT is collected from businesses on their “value added” in the supply chain. We impose sales taxes on imported goods that are consumed here; is that a tariff? If so, the word has lost meaning. If the consumption of imports were untaxed, there would be a powerful incentive to consume imported goods rather than domestically produced goods. Is that what you advocate?
I see no solutions coming from the unfair free trade supporters.
Put up a plan or don’t whine when Trump follows his plan. BTW his plan is to negotiate to get closer to fair and free trade. If not then there will be a quid pro quo on nations that don’t trade freely.