Source: Washington Monthly
by David Atkins
“Tariffs are Trump’s crutch response to almost any overseas problem, his elixir for international ailments. If a country doesn’t do what he wants, he threatens a tariff. But the 2024 version of Trump is even more radical, extreme, and dangerous on this issue than his 2016 and 2020 equivalents — because now, instead of wielding tariffs to compel countries to do his bidding, he promotes these levies as a domestic fiscal remedy allowing him to balance the budget and even eliminate income taxes without the drawback of higher retail prices. But tariffs do not work the way Trump says they do and cannot accomplish what he claims they can.” (09/12/24)