[Cacophonous]

Imposing import tariffs does not create a monopoly for Boeing; it does just the opposite.

With tariffs on imports from unfair competitors, nothing stops Ford or Douglas-Curtis or "CWOJackson Air" or "Cacophonous Airframes" from making airplanes. Preventing unfair competition would ENCOURAGE domestic competition, lowering prices. Boeing could press Congress all they want; if they get undersold by "Two Guys and A Crescent Wrench Manufacturing" in Kiron, Iowa, all the lobbying in the world won't save them.

Then, of course, Airbus would see that is was losing business and start to play fair. Or go out of business because they can't outsell "Redneck Aeroplanes" of Montvale, Virginia. Either way is OK.

What Airbus already has is an effective monopoly because they are protected from going out of business (and hence from bad business practices, etc.).

[CWOJackson]

So far the assumptions I'm seeing on this thread are that the federal government would cut corporate taxes if they could impose tariffs, and we could trust American business executives and Congress to not artificially raise tariffs to increase profit margin because a new aircraft manufacturer is going to pop up in someone's garage next week.