[reaperducer]

it’s difficult to discern any coherent U.S. strategy—assuming one even exists

The strategy is to keep everyone unsure what might come next.

It's like in boxing. When you hit your opponent and leave them confused and uncertain what you might do next, you use that to your advantage and keep on hitting. It's how you "win."

As if there are any winners here.

[Flip-per]

He isn't really hitting an opponent though, he is mainly hitting the U.S.

[grey-area]

The US is what needs beaten into submission so he can rule over the ruins.

[rchaud]

If Trump has learned anything, it is that the US is a lot easier to bully than others. He is convicted of a felony, he talks down to his own voters, abandons his biggest promises (repealing ACA and building a wall) and they still let him lead the country!

[Qwertious]

>The strategy is to keep everyone unsure what might come next.

If the goal is to encourage investment into US manufacturing, then that's the exact opposite to the strategy he needs - investment requires stability and confidence that the N-year investment will eventually pay off. Nobody will invest due to tariffs if the tariffs might disappear tomorrow.