Newspaper

The lingering concerns over President Donald Trump’s tariffs are beginning to weigh on the minds of Americans on the left, middle and right of the political scale.

While many are applauding the president’s desire to lower the nation’s trade deficit, there seems to be no end-game that will make a long-term difference. Trump did secure a truce with China in the trade war, which promises only temporary relief for American interests such as soybean farmers.

Efforts to negotiate up front were short-lived, leading to Trump’s rash of tariffs, including several impacting the largest importer of American goods, China. Among the products sought from the U.S. are soybeans, a crop that is abundantly produced in America, and particularly in Alabama.

China responded with a 25 percent tariff on American soybeans, opening the way for another leading producer, Brazil, to win more business while U.S. farmers watch their crop go to waste.

There has already been plenty of publicity about tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to the U.S. for the booming automobile business and other prospering industries.

The president’s goal is to ramp up manufacturing in the U.S., creating a larger domestic availability of certain products and, hopefully, create more jobs.

The argument of trade deficits and whether they matter is an ongoing debate, while in the meantime American businesses are starting to feel the pinch.

No one can ensure American steel and aluminum plants can be updated with the technology to compete against those overseas. The gamble would be expensive for such investments without some government assistance or supplement.

What we do know is that the U.S. has been enjoying a lucrative economic run, which has some dependency on being able to take advantage of the global market to import materials for domestic production and creating jobs.

The issue’s complexity is intermingled with nationalism, the belief by some that the United States has no need to depend on anyone around the globe.

American farmers are exporting billions of dollars of products, which keeps farms productive and boosts local economies. Small, efficient industries have also been growing because of their ability to obtain high quality steel and aluminum for production, which, again, is adding jobs.

Everyone wants the president to be successful in negotiating trade agreements that benefit Americans and keep markets open.

However, the president’s calls for tariffs are creating trade wars that are having a negative impact. Additionally, the uncertainty of future trade is impacting markets globally and many investments, including pensions and 401ks that were in a growth mode earlier this year.

The reality is economies are intermingled around the world and in many cases creating employment and expansions will strengthen markets.

Trump understandably wants to ensure that American producers have multiple markets for exporting goods, but a tariff war is not the way to go.

A closer look at what has worked well for businesses in the past might be a good starting point for better negotiations and the preservation of healthy U.S. farms, businesses and investment income.