United States Politics: ∆τ_i*ε*φ*m_i<0 where ε=4 and φ=0.25

[Potato]

I understand wanting to decouple trade from China.

The way to do it would have been to work with democratic nations in the Americas, Europe, and Pacific to band together and tariff China together on a schedule gradually rising because China is hostile to all of us.

Instead Trump picked a tariff slapfight with allies and only after that slapped huge tariffs on China.

It's because he's a dickhead and lashing out at those closest to you is what dickheads do.