You have your nuclear analogy backward though. Unbridled on-sided free trade is the weapon of mass destruction not the other way around.
Tariffs are fundamentally destructive, however Trump is NOT wrong.
Let me explain with an analogy. Nuclear weapons are fundamentally destructive. Their purpose is to create as huge an explosion as scientifically possible, and to destroy all structures, industrial capacity, and even life within its range. No conservative will deny that fact, but yet they support the Reagan Doctrine of “peace through strength”, and would never unilaterally disarm on the spurious basis that such weapons are destructive, and morally ‘wrong’. Conservatives are not that stupid when it comes to military strength.
That is all Trump is saying about trade. Yes, free markets are ideal, and tariffs that interfere with market transactions are far from ideal. But if our trading partners are imposing restrictions at their end, or putting their thumbs on the scale with currency manipulation, there must be retaliatory consequences -or at least the credible threat thereof. Otherwise, we are unilaterally disarming when it comes to trade.
Similarly, we can’t impose strict environmental regulations within our borders, without taking into consideration what our trading partners are doing. If our environmentalists unilaterally try to ‘save the planet’ by limiting US carbon emissions, the factories (and jobs) are relocated to China, and, by the way, no world reduction of carbon emissions is achieved, it is just happening elsewhere on the planet.
So, “Peace through strength” applies to trade, borders, terrorism, foreign aid, military protection, taxation, and environmental regulation as well as weapons of mass destruction.
Trump understands that we are losing our shirt as a nation, because we are taking the moral high ground. It has to stop. We can’t continue to let ourselves be taken to the cleaners on everything.
That is why he wants NATO reevaluated, that is why he wants to put tariffs back on the table, that is why he wants to put water boarding back on the table - that’s why he wants to put “walking away from a bad deal” back on the table. That’s why he wants to put eliminating entire federal departments back on the table. That’s why he wants to put being unpredictable back on the table. That’s why he wants to put saying “you’re fired” back on the table.
Everything should be on the table.
It’s not “protectionism” it’s pragmatism.
You have your nuclear analogy backward though. Unbridled on-sided free trade is the weapon of mass destruction not the other way around.
I'm not against Trump in general. He has some good ideas. But when you really listen to his trade ideas they just stink. Go listen to his comments on the 45% Chinese tariff proposal in his Chris Wallace interview. When challenged he basically admits that his proposal is just a bargaining tool and would never be imposed. The reason: The Chinese would back down when faced with the economic depression that would result. Even Trump knows that large tariffs are not really going to happen. Just bargaining chips with the Chinese and others.
What people don't get about the "Trade Deficit" is that the those $Billions flow back into the U.S. as investments. Some admittedly goes to finance our Federal Government but much of it is invested in U.S stocks and bonds and real estate. Those investments create American jobs.
There is NO BALANCE OF TRADE. We import goods. We export goods. We import more than we export. Money ends up overseas and is invested back in the U.S. That what actually happens. Tax that transaction with tariffs and you will get less goods and less investment. And you will sell a lot less to the Chinese.
That was outstanding - great comments!