[brookst]

I’m skeptical the tariffs were mean to shield US interests rather than just being intended to do exactly what they’re achieving: isolating the US by driving investment and allies away, while contributing to a recession where oligarchs can further consolidate power and wealth.

If you look at them as an attack on the US, everything makes a lot more sense.

[whoisthemachine]

I think the idea is definitely to trigger a recession, but I doubt they care about "allies"; this crowd loved the zero-interest rate days. A strong enough recession should bring those back without the drama of the president forcing the fed chief to do so through coercion.

[__MatrixMan__]

Agreed, it's exactly what I'd do if I wanted the US to withdraw from global relevance.

[9283409232]

This is the correct way of thinking about it. The tariffs aren't meant to drive economic growth, they are meant to tank the economy and drive a wedge between the US and allies. The ultimate goal is to start a recession and an extra bonus goal would be to get US army bases in Europe shut down. That would make Putin extra happy.

[tempodox]

Yep, when Trump is through America will lie in ruins.

[oceanplexian]

> Isolating the US by driving investment and allies away

Foreign government's have an easy solution to solve the problem.

Don't unfairly advantage your goods and services against American products and we won't do the same. Free trade shouldn't mean "Free trade for one side". Free trade should be contingent on reciprocity, both in terms of social and economic alignment.

[__MatrixMan__]

...as mediated by individual buyers and sellers deciding whether they'll pay a price based on the quality of the goods. Not based on some kind of dick waving contest that's happening in the corridors of power.

By now it's clear that "fair" in this administration is defined by whoever is the biggest bully in the room, so

> unfairly advantage your goods and services against American products

is just a fancy way to say: "let us push you around."

[BLKNSLVR]

Trump signed the trade deal with Canada in his first term. Now he's calling it unfair.

Trump stated that the Canadian tariffs were a reaction to fentanyl crossing the Canadian border into the US.

That has nothing to do with trade fairness or Canadian protectionism.

[3vidence]

Ahh yes, America uses tarrifs to force a new trade agreement and then says that trade agreement is bad.

The US just isn't planning things anymore and trying to justify it makes people look silly.