[java-man]

what we should do then is to support local manufacturing by purchasing massive amount of solar panels, building battery based grid storage, switching transportation to electric on massive scale.

slapping tariffs on foreign products ensures that our manufacturing becomes even more backward, while the rest of the world takes off.

if we want to avoid monopoly - build own capacity, competitively.

[yourbandsucks]

I used to think this, but the Chinese themselves have proved me wrong.

I think it's smart to use some amount of protectionist tarriffs in "industries of the future". Furniture? Who cares. Solar? Might be worth it.

[java-man]

I think it applies equally to furniture or solar. If you want quality local manufacturing, it is better to let it compete on the global market. Help by placing orders, may be, but let it compete.

Otherwise we'll only prolong inevitable decline.

Example: go to Japan and check in into a modern hotel. Then look at the hardware - door latches, bed, toilet... Then compare the quality of these products against their American counterparts. An isolated example, may be, but the outcome is higher quality at lower prices.