Tariffs aren’t simply a negotiating tactic for the U.S., but a way to change economic incentives.The Trump trade team believes U.S. firms need protection from a predatory Chinese state, which Mr. Trump says coerces U.S. companies to fork over technologies and subsidizes Chinese firms to expand globally.
Using tariffs to make it more expensive for companies to export from China, Trump trade warriors figure, will encourage foreign firms to take their know-how out of the country. This isn’t a short-term strategy.
