[Boogieman]

That’s a nice story, but I don’t think it would work.

What are some examples of a strong export economy that was ruined by another country enacting tariffs against them? Can you think of any?

We didn’t beat the USSR with tariffs, we beat them by initiating an arms race that they couldn’t sustain.

[baltimorepoet]

We didn’t beat the USSR with tariffs, we beat them by initiating an arms race that they couldn’t sustain.

On the income side, the Saudis helped us wreck the USSR by pumping more oil to keep oil prices low.

"Free trade theory" doesn't work well if one negotiating side is controlled by globalists willing to sell out their own country and the other side is controlled by nationalists aiming for an unequal trade deal favorable to them.

So-called "free trade" approved of by the US government, is not much more than the 21st century version of the Unequal Treaties that the Chinese people had to put up with.

Oh, well. I guess you probably think that is just karma, and you might be right.