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The U.S. is also a major food exporter. That is a segment of the economy that will likely take a big hit if we get into recriprocal tarriff wars.

Sure, but expecting no change to the status quo is wishful thinking. Countries (including Canada, China, and Mexico) will retaliate against the goods they import from the U.S.

Sure, but expecting no change to the status quo is wishful thinking. Countries (including Canada, China, and Mexico) will retaliate against the goods they import from the U.S.

They will, and are, but it's worth noting if they have a trade surplus with us, they have somewhat limited options available.

Yup.

And many of the countries we're talking about-- and specifically Mexico and China-- already have a significant trade surplus with the US.  In many cases, this trade imbalance exists partially because of the tariffs and other trade obstacles they've historically imposed against us.

How is it that so many people don't know about this? Ignorance by choice?

I think eyes glaze over for many when economic issues get discussed, and they call back on their political persuasion for comfort.

"Trump if for it?  I hate it."

Or in my case, "Friedman against it?  I hate it."  

My eyes did glaze over in college econ classes, although I made good grades in them.  Now, I think, I'd probably enjoy learning economics much more.  

Incidentally, I really do think Thomas Sowell's "Basic Economics" should be required reading for everyone.  It's long, but do it anyway.  It's plain, useful, and somehow he managed to make it not-boring.  

I've read it.

I'm confused. You're all agreeing that our food producers have nothing to worry about? Clarify that for me.

China and Mexico are #1 and #2 purchasers of US agricultural exports, and they already both have significant trade surpluses with the US.  There's a reason they import so much food from the US and that's not going away just because they might get sore that we're finally evening the score in some other areas.  I suppose they could triple-dog tariff us, but really with the size of imbalances they're running which stem in some part, or even in large part, from their existing unfair trade practices, they really don't have a lot of room to make further changes.

Like FF said-- they'll pay the tariff if they're hungry.