Trump’s own Commerce Department has considerable NTBs in place. The department’s International Trade Administration regulates imports on a host of fronts. For example, it may place countervailing duties on products from countries that are found to be selling goods below cost in the U.S. market. The ITA also enforces antidumping duties on foreign goods that are found to be priced below fair-market value. And it imposes duties to offset subsidies that foreign governments give to their domestic producers. These duties can be substantial, in some cases exceeding 300%.
Trade experts and economists have been vocal in criticizing Trump’s trade policies, arguing that his focus on tariffs is misguided and that the real barriers to trade are the non-tariff measures that the U.S. itself employs. They point out that the U.S. is actually more protectionist than many other countries when it comes to non-tariff barriers, and that these measures have a greater impact on trade flows than tariffs do. It remains to be seen whether the U.S. will shift its focus from tariffs to addressing these non-tariff barriers in the future.
Overall, the Trump administration’s approach to trade has been controversial and has raised questions about the effectiveness of tariffs as a tool to address trade imbalances. Critics argue that tariffs harm both domestic and foreign economies, leading to higher prices for consumers and reduced competitiveness for businesses. They also point out that tariffs can escalate into trade wars, as seen with the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China. It remains to be seen how the U.S. will navigate these challenges in the future.
Namun, dalam kondisi normal, negara-negara ini hanya mengenakan tarif sedikit lebih tinggi kepada AS daripada yang dikenakan AS pada ekspor mereka, dan jauh lebih sedikit hambatan non-tarif dibandingkan yang kita lakukan. Solusi terbaik Trump akan menawarkan untuk menurunkan hambatan non-tarif yang meningkatkan harga bagi konsumen Amerika dan menghambat produktivitas kita sebagai imbalan atas kesepakatan mitra perdagangan kita untuk menurunkan pembatasan mereka. Hasil tersebut benar-benar akan mencerminkan seni dari kesepakatan.
Cerita ini awalnya ditampilkan di Fortune.com