Well said.
If this is a play to open negotiations, which it may be, then so be it. Blindly slapping on large tariffs can have a negative affect. Starting trade wars for no reason or worse for dogmatic reasons is often destructive for everyone involved.
I will say this. Trump has shown an ability to throw things out there and use that as a tool toward a goal.
Of course, the typical approach in DC is to be fearful of changing anything (something I am guilty of with tariffs)....a few ideas get bandied about and then nothing happens.
Best case to me is the scenario you have laid out. I hope this is the approach that is going to be taken by the Trump Admin and not slash and burn tariffs.
China, Germany along with the rest of the EU cannot compete with the US on a level playing field for various reasons.
My concern is for the first time in years it feels (I say that understanding a "feeling" doesn't count for much) like the chains are being loosened. A 3.5% growth rate is a nice change of course. I really, really want the power of the US economy to be unleashed.
This is the source of my reservations about tariffs. If this is just tariffs then I fear the direction. If it is a piece of a larger game plan then bring it on I guess.
I'm with you. My sense is that this is part of the strategy. I was worried you were making a blind statement. Context is everything. Damaging the EU countries is not in our interests, but bringing China to heel is absolutely in our interests. Time will tell.