Or at least read Bastiat: http://bastiat.org/en/petition.html

I know .. all those rules apply to US .. how about setting some non Tarrifs rules on EU .. or China or India .. I am sympathetic to smaller developing nations .. n but if go by your theory .. they too are harming themselves by imposing Tarrifs on US goods (services) .. or Chinese .. right ?

Theories are great .. till we hit a real world example .. then lets just talk specifics .. Why does India has 50 billion (per year ) trade surplus with US ? Is it like US has nothing to offer ? Btw - just FYI .. India imposes 150 percent Tarrifs on US Auto and Whiskey .. I mean I can still live without a Ford Truck but without Jack Daniels .. give me a break :-) ..Or straight up Bourbon ...

That's by design. Our government spends too much, and it's only possible because other countries keep buying our dollars. Its only a trade deficit if you don't understand that dollars are the good we produce and you demand. If no one wanted dollars, our economy would hyperinflate because the domestic economy can't absorb that many dollars. So, on the one hand, thank you ; on the other hand, please stop. The tariff makes no difference to me - stop buying our dollars.