ML-Implode News - Trump Even Does Trade Protectionism Wrong

The idea of industrial protectionism, from British free trade in the 19th century to U.S. trade strategy in the 20th century, was to obtain raw materials in the cheapest places -- by making other countries compete to supply them -- and protect your high-technology manufactures where the major capital investment, profits and monopoly rents are.
Trump is doing the reverse: He's increasing the cost of steel and aluminum raw materials inputs. This will squeeze the profits of industrial companies using steel and aluminum -- without protecting their markets.

In fact, other countries are now able to legally raise their tariffs to protect their highest-technology sectors that might be most threatened by U.S. exports. Harley Davidson motorcycles have been singled out. They also can block U.S. monopoly exports, such as bourbon and Levi blue jeans, or pharmaceuticals. Or, China can block whatever U.S. technology it decides it wants to compete with.

Relevant:

Trump Even Does Trade Protectionism Wrong - Michael Hudson