Except they implemented the decision and are responding to countries’ willingness to negotiate fair trade terms, just like with Mexico. Nobody is saying “just joking”. If people weren’t 1000% dismissive of the leader’s stated intentions they might be able to follow along. It’s been crystal clear to me that the goal has always been to renegotiate trade terms not to live in a world with persistent reciprocal tariffs.
This is a hilarious assertion. Their stated objectives have been all over the map, so any outcome can fit at least some of their statements.
Admin proxies have said tariffs are to pay for tax cuts, they've stated they're intended to bring back manufacturing jobs, they've stated we should prepare for a lengthy trade war and accept the higher prices like men, and while some proxies have said this is a negotiation tactic others have stated unequivocally that this is not a negotiation tactic.
Bold assertions like yours are easy to make with the benefit of hindsight. What do you predict tariff rates to be in a week? A month? A year?
You can get rich this way, but you can't get respect. The fact that half of a respected nation opted for this approach continues to baffle me.
And maybe I should say "formerly respected nation", the global perception of the US goes rapidly down. I guess the question now is will the nation actually profit from that.
