re: Protectionism vs. Free Trade

Trump is not proposing true protectionism. All he's saying is that our trade partners need to deal fairly with us. If they want access to our markets, then we need equal access to theirs. We negotiated these deals poorly for our export goods, and that hurts American workers. In my opinion, he's using tariff threats to let those who would treat us unfairly that we're not going to be steamrolled anymore.... it's beginning negotiations from a position of strength.