Nothing is going to suddenly make everybody smiles and kisses. Trade differences exist in the world -- always have, always will.

We were on the verge of creating a strong trade deal and tighter bloc with most non-China Asia countries with TPP. That was as much strategic regarding China as it was about trading with other countries. It looks like we have lost that opportunity now completely. There are many examples of how the U.S. both alone and with other allies have been successful at the WTO battling China in some specific areas. The rhetoric that the WTO is worthless and hasn't been valuable in this regard is an absolutely false narrative. That has been a powerful organization effective in helping create global pressures -- sometimes more slowly, sometimes more quckly -- toward a better playing field. There are other more "scalpel" like things (i.e. going after particular issues and companies -- especially if you really have cooperation elsewhere) we could have done in bilateral relations and strategic areas that are far different than all, everything tariff war.

Why at least attempt more of a focused approach? Because guess what -- contrary to popular and populist belief, not every U.S. company doing business in China is having intellectual property stolen or dealing with unfair trade practices. I know some simply don't believe that can be true, but that is what happens when we demagogue an issue at the highest levels and everybody believes they are an expert in everything.

But this kind of tariff war is quite possibly the single worst thing that could have been done. It can badly damage companies that are the heart and soul of multiple industries on all sides. It can also damage things that may be literally impossible to get back. What China is doing now sourcing other Ag products could really hurt us in the long term.

Sometimes in life the answers aren't crystal clear or quick enough regarding how to solve an issue --- but it doesn't mean one then turns to the worst thing that can be done. The issue here is that there appears real philosophy among enough people that tariffs truly are "great" and that trade isn't even necessarily a positive. This thinking goes well beyond China.

I'm not saying anything others haven't said here or you can't find in a million other places in more articulate detail. If one says "there are no other ideas", then they aren't sincerely looking -- and plenty aren't really looking because for at least some, there really is an entrenched belief that we hardly need to trade, we can make everything ourselves, we can export to everybody but should only run trade surpluses, etc... So at least part of this is sure starting to look like a manifestation of a completely different approach and philosophy about trade in general.