throwaway925

16 days in operation, no victories. Should be in a book of greatest enterprise failures.

"The US strong protectionism is not through tariffs but through tax incentives, targeted investments hidden as national security contracts and things like "buy american" acts."

what fraction of GDP is that? 1-5%? Europe semi public enterprises have a much bigger weight. Banking, energy, postal services, transport, telecommunications were until recent national monopolies and protecting domestic champions is still a matter of national interest.

Trade balances aren't really a good measure of who is winning and losing. The more trade, the bigger the welfare gains. Shutting trade in order to close a trade deficit is bad policy. I understand that Trump uses that threat in order to get more favourable terms for the domestic producers, but I am sure he's aware of the mutual damage of blocking trade altogether.