I'm going to start this discussion with a simple request:
Please focus on the topic at hand.
The world seems to have turned into a giant group of prairie dogs with no collective attention span, so I humbly request that instead of derailing the conversation with whataboutisms, that we all focus on making fact-based points about the topic. And what is that topic? Well, it's trade, of course.
What in the goddamn name of hell is America doing? I've done a fair few things in my career, but my academic work includes a graduate degree in economics, so I'd like to better understand the economic and financial rationale behind the current US administration's trade policies. A year ago, President Trump said, "America first doesn't mean America alone." But it sure looks that way at the moment.
Now, trade is complicated, so it's tough to call BS when the scent of feces is in the air. Most people barely understand rudimentary economics. The vast majority of people don't understand value-added taxes or the differences between them or simple sales taxes (hint: there is no difference). Tariffs, however, are moronically simple. They almost universally result in higher prices for consumers. Enacting tariffs on national security grounds against its closest allies in a vain attempt to get them to repeal all protectionist measures they have in place without offer any concessions on the protectionist measures the US has in place feels like an awful negotiating strategy.
Most importantly, if that was the intent, it didn't work, and it's unlikely to work. Perhaps it was just some posturing leading into the meeting with North Korea this week. Maybe Trump wants to show he's independent and unpredictable to throw Kim off-balance, but I think that's probably giving the US President too much credit. I suppose it's also possible that in the spat with Canada in particular, Trump would like a concession for US dairy producers exporting to Canada without giving something up. After all, if you create a new tariff, then say you did so for national security reasons, maybe you can take that extra security risk associated with importing some Canadian steel and aluminum (by removing the tariff) if they're willing to make some concessions. That way, you disrupt the status quo without giving an inch and gain something for nothing. Unfortunately, this isn't particularly crafty and it certainly doesn't constitute statecraft.
As a self-styled deal-maker, Trump has to recognize the 'art of the deal' is found where our two WIIFMs reach an equilibrium. Right now, he doesn't seem to be solving for that at all, but simply maximizing his own WIIFM, assuming that solution to be the best for America (or maybe just best for him). But that sort of deal-making generally only works when you have a great deal of leverage over your counterparty and they need to transact. While the US is by far the most important member of the G7, the other world leaders won't keep getting to attend those meetings if they look weak and get voted out of office. They too have to play to their home audiences, and making concessions to the US to satisfy the whims of the current president won't play favorably for any of them.
And the thing is--this isn't one of those times Trump just did a bad job of explaining a complicated subject which he barely understands himself. His trade position seems inconsistent and numerically indefensible enough to be counted amongst his many lies. That said, maybe I just need someone better-versed than me to school me on the numbers. If any of you care to explain to me the relative trading positions of the G7, I'd be interested in seeing a comprehensive list of tariffs or protectionist measures imposed by each county against other members of the group. I'd love to know if there is any actual economic support for the US President's claims.
Donald Trump is a prime example of Dunning-Kruger gone wild. He is not competent enough to realize how little he knows about how economics, geopolitics, or even deal-making work. Unfortunately, the problem is less Trump and more his base. Across the developed world we are seeing a backlash against "experts." In the modern age of information there exists a large counter-culture--anti-vaxxers, flat earthers, or Brexit campaigners just to name a few. Our initial reaction is to ask why people would sabotage themselves. Game theory teaches us that rational actors can make sub-optimal conclusions, while the works of Kahneman and Tversky explain that human decision making is incredibly flawed.
I'm not sure how it will play out, but it "feels" like it will get worse before it begins to get better. In short, Trump's trade policies are indefensible.