How Foolish Is Trump’s Trade Policy?

Today on Global Trade Unboxed: Former President Trump’s tariff crusade is back in the headlines, but economist Bob Graboyes is firing back with sharp analysis in his Bastiat’s Window essay. Graboyes dismantles the myth that trade deficits are economic weakness, pointing out that the U.S. saw deficits during the prosperous Reagan years and surpluses during the Great Depression—hardly a sign of strength. His real zinger? Both parties have long danced with tariffs, with Democrats historically championing them through laws like the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Here’s the insight: tariffs are less about economics and more about political theater. And when global capital flows are driven by investment opportunity, not trade balances, tariffs distort supply chains, misallocate resources, and undermine the very global competitiveness they claim to protect.https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/how-foolish-is-trumps-trade-policy/

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