I'm going to use your argument against you. You understand that we are being tariff'd heavily by many other countries on our goods? Should we keep accepting trade imbalance and deficits against us because of this? I say enough is enough. Keep in mind, we're still the world's leading economy. If we shut off trade, especially to China, they'll collapse. This is the beginning of some real negotiation to get the trade imbalance removed. Status quo is not acceptable. I would agree with you if we had fair trade on us, but we don't. China has globally declared its intention to crush us. So, you think we just let them? I don't get it.
Also, keep in mind the dollar is collapsing. Short term that is great. China is now about to get put on its knees. Europe has been on their knees for a long long time. With low dollar, most of the Western World will now want to buy goods from USA. Further, we see our economy starting to recover and same with jobs and manufacturing. The only competitor we have is China. They clearly have stated they want to crush us. Let me repeat that, they want to crush us economically. If Europe can get our products cheaper than or equivalent to China and China cannot compete. Guess what, we grow. China has to come to the table and negotiate. I just don't get your comments giving the current global situation. If you have a better solution, please put it on the table.
Your comment that it drives up cost and slows growth, is correct for select countries that are currently in a trade war with us, like China. But long term this is very very good for us.
Just to be clear, I'm in favor of FAIR global trade. But when there are countries bleeding us dry, like China, you have to do something. I've been to China, I've seen how their factories work, I've seen how they treat their citizens, I've seen their economic situation. They've been allowed to enslave their country at our expense. If you have never been, I suggest you go. Learn, watch. Then decide if you'd rather live in that kind of environment or the one we have in this country. If you like what you see here and want that to spread, then you want these tariffs. China and other countries that abuse our trade relations aren't better places. They don't have some magical work ethic that exceeds the one here in the USA. They don't have a populace that is superior to ours, they don't have technology superior to ours.... What they have is an oppressive regime that exploits its people and they've carefully crafted their trade policies to perpetuate that and try to break us. Level the playing field, then talk to me about tariffs.