[Jim W N]

The Smoot-Hawley tariff of 1930 had a lot to do with the subsequent Great Depression.

"Those who don't learn from history are condemned to repeat it."

[dila813]

Obama is going to take a hard left after the election and embrace this.

Since it is in law, congress only hope is to impeach him and that is a long process.

I wonder if congress will even try.

[mamelukesabre]

wake up people. china has already instigated a trade war. the only thing worse than a trade war is sticking your head in the sand when someone instigates a trade war with you.

[WellyP]

A tariff isn't needed if Americans would stop buying Chinese products unless there is no other option.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

“The Smoot-Hawley tariff of 1930 had a lot to do with the subsequent Great Depression.”

I’m not so sure. It’s a cause and effect thing. When there is a depression, there *has* to be a contraction in international trade. But does the contraction come first, or the protectionism?

Remember that protectionism is a long process, but a trade contraction can happen rapidly. And if the contraction has already happened, it becomes *easier* to pass protectionism, because it is a moot point.

[Nuc 1.1]

We better institute a tariff or whatever, or the majority of us will have the same standard of living as a Chinese peasant.

[gotribe]

The problem with China isn’t China, it’s America. If America slashed government spending, slashed its deficit, slashed its taxes, slashed regulations, then capital would flow here. Until it does that, nothing China can do will help America. America’s problems are largely of its own making.