Marco Rubio thinks the tariffs should stay, as they give us leverage with the Chinese. Of course he does! He’s the architect of our unsuccessful attempt to depose Maduro with sanctions, and he still believes in the Cuba embargo. Hey, just because it hasn’t toppled the Cuban regime in its first sixty years doesn’t mean it won’t work tomorrow.
The tariffs are stupid. The cost of them is borne by American consumers, not the Chinese. China isn’t even abiding by the managed trade agreement that was the product of the tariffs. Shooting yourself in the foot does not create leverage.
The only reason Biden hasn’t jettisoned the tariffs by now is that he fears the political repercussions of looking soft on China. Well, how about looking soft on inflation? Why not take advantage of the inflation rate and use it as a pretext to ditch the tariffs? If the GOP wants to talk about being weak on China, he can respond by calling them inflation doves.
It’s an opportunity to make lemonade out of lemons. Let’s hope he takes advantage of it.