[xp84]

Biggest tragedy of the Trump economy: the rhetoric is actually right on a number of these trade things, but the tariffs themselves are so goofy and scattershot and, I assume, influenced by corrupt favors, in that they target a ton of raw materials and inputs, hurting the very manufacturing industry they’re claiming to be trying to help.

A sane application of protectionism would be more like Britain in 1800 - Importing a ton of raw materials from overseas (e.g. cotton), and selling them the products made from them (textiles). Tariff Chinese washing machines but not foreign steel, magnets, and wire that we could use to make our own.

Aluminum, iron, and coal mining jobs, etc, are not what I want to add. Car factories on the other hand, sure. So far, the tariffs have been more likely to hurt those factories than help them.