Were we genuinely paying China's tariffs to begin with?

[HazlittIsLit]

Trump supporters like to justify Trump's tariffs by remarking that they are merely counter-tariffs, and that we have been adversely affected trade-wise by China's tariffs. But if we are paying for our tariffs on China, doesn't it follow that China is paying for their own respective tariffs? I know we have a trade deficit with China, and have for a while, but that has to do more with importing more goods from than we are exporting to China.

 

[Swordsmyth]

China didn't just use tariffs, they have many non-tariff barriers and and subsidies for their industries.
It is bad long term economic policy for them but it was very effective trade warfare, just like all warfare is bad economic policy unless you use it to conquer another country and loot its resources or to protect your own country from being looted the Chinese sought to use trade warfare to conquer and loot America and we must fight back to protect ourselves from being looted.

It is also not so certain that we are paying the costs of Trump's tariffs, the Chinese lower their prices and/or get government subsidies in order to try and keep marketshare and they pay some or all of the tariffs.

 

[oyarde]

Yes americans were paying for chinese rules if that is the question . China makes rules that were an advantage to them . America did nothing . So that is your choice . Nothing or try somewhat the type of thing trump has . I have no real opinion either way as it has no effect on me. I buy the least amount of goods I can from china- north korea ( yes , chinese labled clothing is often north korean ) . The weirdo people on RPF's like letting everyone else make the rules except America . Secretly they are probably mostly slutty left leaning globalists .