@haitchfive @akkartik the key point is that Trump is trying to pursue balance in *bilateral trade relationships* which is incoherent and super-restrictive of meaningful trade.

the sensible policy is to require each country to be in *overall balance* with the rest-of-world. it is not remotely sensible to try to prevent or remedy every bilateral imbalance. if a country buys coffee from columbia but sells the same value of microchips to the US, it is in balance.