These morons don’t get it. Tariffs are just a negotiation tool. Example:
1- You tell China that if they don’t open up their markets you’ll slap tariffs on their products.
2- If they don’t comply: You slap tariffs on their products.
3- Chinese products become less competitive and they lose market share. Instead of buying products from China, consumers will buy from Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand..
4- Manufacturing plants will shift their production away from China.
5- Consumers in the US will not be affected.
The same goes for Mexico. The cars made in Mexico can also be made in Honduras. Mexico is in a very weak negotiating position. They have no choice but to open up their market.
But consumers will be affected. We’ll all wind up paying higher prices to cover the tax.
Won’t affect China.
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/24/trumps-protectionism-may-hit-emerging-markets-but-not-china.html
Oh they get it alright. They just like being able to sell things in the US without having to deal with the "overhead" of making those things in the US.
Pretty sweet deal for those who can get it.