No one ever suggested ending global trade.
It appears that Trump is striving for reciprocal trade which would be an improvement. Trump also has an objective to bring manufacturing back and rebuild America’s industries.
So if other countries don’t reciprocate, then the tariffs go into effect and stay in effect and Trump achieves bringing industries back.
If the other countries are smart and reciprocate and eliminate the trade deficits, then America does benefit, but the job of rebuilding industries becomes a little harder. Trump will find a way.
Industries will not be “rebuilt”
Industries will be new
>> Trump also has an objective to bring manufacturing back <<
“Manufacturing” as a whole never left. In fact, as a share of national output, it hasn’t changed all that much.
But on the other hand, manufacturing has automated to the extent that in steel, for example, two men can now do the work that used to require ten men. Ditto for many other industries.
Also, a lot of factories have closed, and their workers have needed to find other jobs — exactly as have the workers replaced by automation. But does that mean we now have mass unemployment?
Uh, no. Unemployment is now at record low levels.