No, I don't agree with the premise that foreign nations should be forced to buy an equivalent amount of goods that we purchase from them.
Adam Smith's proposal for tariffs on imports was to compensate for other taxes placed on domestic production. So if domestic companies were paying 25% in taxes (Income Tax, Property Tax, Social Security Tax, etc. etc.), Foreign imports would be subject to a 25% tax. If the total on domestic producers was less (or more), the tariff would be lower or higher accordingly.
While I agree with this in principle, I also think the economy (and our domestic tax codes) is too complex for it to be practicle. Rather than trying to figure out seperate tariff rates for every commodity that may be imported, I would favor a flat rate revenue tariff applied to all imported goods.
It's about the total value of goods as opposed to just dollar ammounts shipped back and forth.
How would this affect your outlook on global trade, if at all?
Not just the company because the American worker is taxed to support a Social Security program, and pays FICA, state and local taxes plus a large portion of our income goes to property taxes and other taxes to support government programs. When the American is out of a job, those programs still exist and fewer are left to pay for them, there's still free health care programs, public schools and all the rest that someone has to pay for. Before they justified taxes by saying those who benefit from the American economy must pay to provide for those who don't ---and now the Chinese and others are benefitting by having jobs so they should also pay for our Socialist programs. Unless we end those.