Economic Reality
Answers to his issues with tariffs:<p>&gt; First, such tariffs are probably barred under trade agreements that are in place.  To impose them, we would have to abrogate those agreements.<p>So what?  Those trade agreements were made under the assumption that they&#x27;d be good for America.  Now that we know they&#x27;re bad for America, the assumptions under which they were made are invalid.<p>&gt; We have to wonder about retaliatory actions – wouldn’t other countries impose offsetting tariffs on U.S. exports that would further harm our manufacturing base?<p>We&#x27;re a net importer.  Tariffs in other countries would only really hurt if we did a ton of exports.<p>&gt; What would happen to our ability to refinance our perpetually growing national debt if China, our biggest creditor, decided one day it wasn’t quite as eager to participate in new Treasury financings?<p>Lower taxes and cut the size of government.  Stop printing money and allow interest rates to rise.<p>&gt; What would rising barriers do to one of the main motivations behind the broadening of U.S. trade agreements since World War II: preventing conflict?<p>A tariff is not a wall.  Trade would still take place and there&#x27;d still be interdependence.<p>&gt; Finally, but most simply, what American wants to pay 50% more for a cellphone than he does today?<p>An American who used to be unemployed or paid minimum wage, but has gotten a much better job with an greatly increased salary because he no longer has to compete with desperately poor people who will accept pay far below the US minimum wage.