text: The US is committing itself to mediocrity with increased trade barriers to protect their inefficient industries.  In particular the US automobile industry should up its game and design and produce better cars that people actually want if they expect to compete against superior German and Japanese cars.  Setting up trade barriers will only ensure that US automobile consumers end up with overpriced obsolete vehicles.  About the only industry where the US excels at domestic manufacturing is in the military equipment market which for obvious reasons can not be outsourced.  This fact may explain why Trump is pushing for other countries to immediately up their military spending so that they will have to buy US made military hardware and thereby increase US manufacturing employment.  Almost looks and sounds like a protection racket.