Donald Trump promised tariffs, and he delivered, imposing by executive fiat tariffs of 25 percent on imports from Canada (10 percent on Canadian energy) and Mexico and 10 percent on imports from China. His justifications are “the major threat of illegal aliens and deadly drugs killing our Citizens, including fentanyl,” and our “major trade deficits with those countries.” According to the president, “the tariffs are going to make us very rich and very strong.” Note the inherent inconsistency: Tariffs imposed by other nations presumably would make them “very rich and very strong” as well. A trade war makes everyone a winner!
Read the full piece in National Review.