Aren't Trump's Tarrifs basically just calculated by looking at the trade deficit?
Aren't Trump's Tarrifs basically just calculated by looking at the trade deficit?
Why are they trying to sell these tarrifs as "AI generated & very complex" when it is basically just the trade deficit with the countries? Or am I wrong?
Yes, you're right. It's the trade deficit in dollar devided by the exports from a particular country to the US and divided by 2. And if it's lower than 10% it's set to 10%.
I think they are lying to create a narrative where the tarrifs are a just answer to supposedly existing trade barriers. Kind of like when the Nazis invaded Poland and lied about "finally shooting back", as if the other side had started it.