Opinion | Trump forgot that in a trade war he has an Achilles bone spur

COL David Turk - Economics doesn't change with time, only our understanding of economics changes, things that are universally proven but forgotten we just need to relearn, hopefully not as painfully as we did 70 years ago. If you want to argue about protectionalist tariff's to prevent China from supplying our defense missile, that is a very valid position, requiring ships to use on shore power isn't restricting free trade it's a environmental position not related to free trade. If Trump is using this as a feint I'll applaud him at that if he gets some concessions, but it appears that is not the case, I'd be glad to be proven wrong. To use tariffs as a way to protect the American economy is just foolishness. It protects special interest group, and only those groups. Every single American will pay higher prices for all items using steel and aluminum until the tariff is repealed. Then we need to see what repercussions other countries will do to the things that we export.

MAJ (Join to see) - to be clear, I’m not disagreeing that tariffs, in general, are not the answer. But the selective use, and/or threat of their use can be beneficial. And who says tariffs are used just to protect the economy? I am well aware of why the ports went to electric sourcing (USACE was directly involved). But the intent of the port does not charge the impact and outlook on shipping companies. As an owner of shipping stocks, and understanding the industry, some of those companies don’t look highly on this fairly new requirement, and by any other name would consider it a unilateral tariff. Unfortunately for them (and fortunately for us), it’s hard to voice their concern about this tariff because they are in the extreme minority. It will probably help put a few of the smaller shippers out of business. But in this case, no one cares.
So therein lies our differences, apparently you see tariffs as an economic only impact, whereas I see it like the US military. Used selectively, the military can display its “other” benefits, and not just with combat actions. The military is used globally for; unit training, project work (Engineers), emergency response, and so on.

“Every single American will pay higher prices for all items using steel and aluminum until the tariff is repealed.” As for Americans paying more for commodities due to political actions, Californians are paying more for electricity than their next door neighbors In Arizona because California politicians mandated the use of non-carbon based generated electricity. Let’s see what happens with the tariffs before passing judgement. I’m feeling positive. They just announced round boy is going to meet the President. After all that saber rattling. Who knew.

MAJ (Join to see) - this is from a Reuters articlejust published.

“Tesla Inc Chief Executive Elon Musk took to Twitter on Thursday to call on U.S. President Donald Trump to challenge China's auto trade rules, which limit foreign ownership of Chinese ventures and impose steep tariffs on imported cars.
In a series of tweets aimed at the president, Musk said he was "against import duties in general, but the current rules make things very difficult. It's like competing in an Olympic race wearing lead shoes."
Tesla has been pushing hard to build cars in China, the world's largest auto market, but has hit roadblocks in negotiations with local authorities, in part because Musk is keen to keep full control of any local venture.
"No U.S. auto company is allowed to own even 50 percent of their own factory in China, but there are five 100 percent China-owned EV (electric vehicle) auto companies in the U.S.," Musk wrote in another tweet.
Tesla "raised this with the prior administration and nothing happened. Just want a fair outcome, ideally where tariffs/rules are equally moderate. Nothing more. Hope this does not seem unreasonable," he said.”
There’s more, but you get the idea.

That I can support, As well as denouce the ludicrousness of California's anti-business policies. My issue is Trump issued a universal tariff against all countries, except the two he was legally prohibited (by NAFTA) from imposing a tariff on. If he wanted to attack China a chinese only tariff would have been more effective.