Unforeseen Contingencies

Tariffs are a terrible idea.  It's clear that Chinese government policies pose problems that need addressing -- the Chinese government steals all sorts of data, including patents and proprietary trade information, personal data (including biometric markers and security clearances).  They also require firms doing business in China to reveal proprietary technological information, which they promptly steal.  All of this does call for sharp, harsh, intelligent responses.

Steel and aluminum tariffs are a blunt and non-targeted response.  They don't directly attack the problem, nor the culprits responsible.  Tariffs become a stupid response when applied broadly, to other countries, and especially when levied at non-offender South Korea.  South Korea is an American ally.   At a time when we need allies in the Pacific, tariffs on South Korea not only make us poorer and make our friends weaker, they threaten us by strengthening our enemy, Rocket Man -- that fat, short homicidal dope with a ridiculous haircut and nuclear weapons.  Tariffs on South Korean steel are a dumb idea, even from the standpoint of anti-free-traders so foolish as to believe that low prices are a problem for us.

Fortunately, the threatened tariffs against South Korea have been temporarily suspended.  But the suspension is temporary, and imposition of the draconian tariffs depends upon the outcome of the upcoming talks.  "We" at Unforeseen Contingencies would like to point out to President Trump and the USTR that tariffs on South Korean steel  will hurt America.  They will raise costs for Americans who use steel (they far outnumber the few American steel users who might gain, and might not), they will jeopardize the trade surplus that American service providers and American farmers and ranchers have with South Korea, over steel?  Do you really want to jeopardize $6.9 billion in American ag exports over $3.4 billion of South Korean steel imports?  Do really want to weaken South Korea and reduce South Koreans' willingness to cooperate with Americans in opposing homicidal Rocket Man, all in the the name of 16th century economic theory?

Mr. Trump --DO NOT RAISE TARIFFS ON SOUTH KOREA, and stop with the mercantilist nonsense.  Make America great again.  Free trade and a robust, aggressive defense, please.