If Tariffs Don’t Work, Why Do Other Countries Tariff the USA?

[Free Vulcan]

Countries often use tariffs to protect certain domestic industries, and have done so with success.  For example, when I lived in South Korea back in the 1990s, it was almost impossible to see any car on the road except a Kia or Hyundai.  The South Korean government put outrageous tariffs on foreign cars, and the purpose was obvious—to encourage Koreans to buy Kias and Hyundais, which Koreans did.  Kia and Hyundai are very successful world car companies now, thus, from the standpoint of the Korean government—and Kia and Hyundai—those tariffs are considered a roaring success.

Of course, the offshoot of that is that tariffs hurt consumers.  Koreans might have been able to buy foreign cars, without the tariffs, cheaper than they could have bought Kias and Hyundais. Thus, Korean consumers suffered by having to buy the higher priced automobiles. 

https://townhall.com/columnists/marklewis/2025/04/07/if-tariffs-dont-work-why-do-other-countries-tariff-the-usa-n2655111

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Countries often use tariffs to protect certain domestic industries, and have done so with success.  For example, when I lived in South Korea back in the 1990s, it was almost impossible to see any car on the road except a Kia or Hyundai.  The South Korean government put outrageous tariffs on foreign cars, and the purpose was obvious—to encourage Koreans to buy Kias and Hyundais, which Koreans did.  Kia and Hyundai are very successful world car companies now, thus, from the standpoint of the Korean government—and Kia and Hyundai—those tariffs are considered a roaring success.

Of course, the offshoot of that is that tariffs hurt consumers.  Koreans might have been able to buy foreign cars, without the tariffs, cheaper than they could have bought Kias and Hyundais. Thus, Korean consumers suffered by having to buy the higher priced automobiles. 

https://townhall.com/columnists/marklewis/2025/04/07/if-tariffs-dont-work-why-do-other-countries-tariff-the-usa-n2655111

To me it's vote pandering in favor of irrational patriotism... mostly. For defense purposes then it's better to make it at home than abroad.

[catfish1957]

To me it's vote pandering in favor of irrational patriotism... mostly. For defense purposes then it's better to make it at home than abroad.

What vote pandering?  Trump can't run in '28?  I think he is honestly and sincerely thinking that leveling the trade playing field is a good idea.  And I agree with that, and think most everyone else here does too. 

Now are his methods the best way to get from Point A to B?  There have been at least a 1000 posts at TBR arguing that point.  No one will know until this thing pans out.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

What vote pandering?  Trump can't run in '28?  I think he is honestly and sincerely thinking that leveling the trade playing field is a good idea.  And I agree with that, and think most everyone else here does too. 

Sure, but we've just had 4 years of nasty inflation, and of course tariffs raise prices. Maybe some nuance is needed here... sure we all hate china... why drag Canada and all these other nations into it?

[catfish1957]

Sure, but we've just had 4 years of nasty inflation, and of course tariffs raise prices. Maybe some nuance is needed here... sure we all hate china... why drag Canada and all these other nations into it?

Exactly...  And why there is a difference of opinion of how to get to that Point A to B. 

I took a stab on another thread, of how  Trump should communicate this process.  My preference would be tempering down the rhetoric, and rallying the troops instead of lambasting some as cowards.

But Trump is Trump, and doubt seriously he'd listen to me or anyone else on this subject.