[central_va]

His goal is not to have tariffs, or a protectionist policy, it is to get the OTHER NATIONS to reduce or eliminate THEIR tariffs.

I don't know about that. Trump has never stated that ever but if I am wrong post a reference.

Hopefully the tariffs will be permanent. The income raised can be used to reduce the debt and lower income tax rates. Tariffs are superior to income taxes, actually all consumption based taxes are in that regard. The old Republican Party, pre WWII was all about the tariff and rightly so.

[Ancesthntr]

I’ll agree with you that consumption-based taxes are better than income taxes. Tariffs have their uses, but they tend to subsidize companies that cannot compete (either that, or once the tariff is put in place, they cease to improve their products and/or services much, and thus cannot sell much outside of the country).