America in the 1800’s had a federal government that spent about 5% GDP - relatively small and non-invasive. America in the 1800’s was one of the freest counties ever to exist in history and its economy was essentially a market economy free from government interference. Tariffs were relatively minor and were used effectively at our beginnings to protect our fledgling industries grow in our new country. Going into the 1800’s America was up and running. Tariffs, again a minor issue then and not significant, were validly used for revenue, but mistakenly to “protect” maturing/mature industries.
Tariffs penalize and are a tax on the American consumer and lower our standard of living. Tariffs today are a palliative, not a curative, measure having the appearance of fixing something, but as with most government programs, actually make matters worse.
Anyone who's lived through the NAFTA era and has an ounce of common sense knows this is nonsense.
For example...the auto worker in Mexico doesn't pay any US taxes on his income, he doesn't patronize American businesses or otherwise spend his income in the United States.
The US auto worker who was laid off doesn't get a better job, the community he lives in suffers economically, the level of crime, welfare, and drug abuse increases, as property values and quality of life goes down.
The reason the (now) 'multi-national' auto maker moved his plant to Mexico in the first place is because "free trade" deals like NAFTA made it more profitable for him to do so.
Now, tariffs will make it less profitable, which is why Chrysler is moving manufacturing back to the United States and other auto makers are opening manufacturing facilities here.
I honestly don't care whether some pointy headed globalist pukes have to pay more for their imported cars as a result, in fact it warms my nationalist heart.