On Shoring
I think I understand why Trump is bent on tariffs. As difficult as it is to admit this, I think he is motivated by the desire to onshore, a desire to bring manufacturing back to the United States. I’m also certain that is not his only desire, but I won’t delve into his other motivations here.
The problem is that on shoring is extremely complicated. It can’t be achieved by making the cost of foreign goods more expensive. That is an idiotic notion. Making the United States the word leader in manufacturing requires more than the stroke of a pen. It will take decades of work. Building infrastructure, hard and soft. Hard: facilities. Soft: Education and training. Tariffs can’t accomplish those things. Needless to say, government would have to play a very active role in both of those arenas. Not something that can be accomplished in a “cost cutting” environment.
There is another complication. I believe the goal of on shoring antithetical to interests of the monied class in America. On shoring would likely bring about a restructuring of wealth in America. Outsourcing has created wealth in America for an influential few. That would naturally impact those few if manufacturing were brought back on shore. I find it hard to believe the newly created money class in America that relies on the “investment driven” money that outsourcing creates would be willing to get behind a transformation that would mean less wealth for themselves.