Deeply Stupid

Yesterday, Donald Trump threatened to slap a tariff on all goods entering from Mexico into the United States in retaliation for unauthorized immigration across the southern border (details here) in a move that brought sharp criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike on Capitol Hill.

That prompted Catherine Rampell at the Washington Post to pen a harshly critical piece (link around paywall here) with the blunt title of "Just a few of the reasons that Trump’s Mexico tariffs are deeply stupid."

What is particularly stupid about this is the fact that Trump wants to punish Mexico for something Trump has failed to do himself.

In short, there is nothing good that would come out of these tariffs and plenty of bad things. They would be a direct tax on consumers who would see an immediate spike in prices, particularly for food items and fresh produce.

It also weakens the United States's stance in Europe and Asia which also currently are tied up in trade wars because it makes us look untrustworthy at the bargaining table.