But they aren't dependent on importing that food from the US. Brazil, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Canada and Argentina are all happy to step up and take over for US producers who are now going to see demand fall through the floor and these producers have been preparing for the inevitable shoe to drop in retaliation for US tariffs for months now. Luckily most of the damage is going to be felt in those central plains red states, so we can all ruefully shake our heads and remind them that this is what happens when morons elect one of their peers.

But I am sure people are just going to be overjoyed when their Christmas electronics are significantly more expensive, and we will see how long they believe delusional statements like ones claiming that this action will "bring manufacturing back to the US" -- I am betting that line will get you a beat-down in the Midwest by next spring.

say what you will about trump and 'central plains morons', but last time I checked, NYC isn't in kansas so 'their peers' is a bit of a stretch..

If these tariffs are on components and not manufactured goods, then it seems like it would push manufacturing into China, not bring it back to the US.

Compare that to even cheap US labor rates and it's a no-brainer.

In 2018, it's a whole lot easier to avoid doing any manufacturing in the US than it is to avoid using any components made in China; and both approaches avoid the tariff as written.

If the goal is to bring back component manufacturing, they need to go back to the drawing board.

These whole shenanigans are quite transparent, really, aren't they?

All fair points, but can US politicians live with opposition from the agricultural lobby and/or rural vote? Political expediency beats long-term economic planning when politician's livelihoods are on the line.

How is it currently unfair?