Trading system does need improvements

President Trump sees tariffs as leverage, pressuring trading partners to end what he sees as their unfair practices. Some practices are unfair. China, for instance, bullies to control intellectual property. The problem with the president’s approach is that it fails to appreciate enough the complexity of global trade, or the way unintended consequences surface to cause harm.

Consider the tariffs on $34 billion of Chinese goods imposed last Friday morning. The Chinese will experience some pain. So will Americans. ...

Harley Davidson moved some production abroad in response to the president’s tariffs on aluminum and steel. The Aluminum Association points out that most American jobs in the industry involve shaping the metal into goods. These are positions with businesses now paying higher prices for raw aluminum. ...

As Ohioans know, and the president seems to overlook, foreign automakers have invested heavily in this country. That includes Honda, Toyota, BMW, Volkswagen and Daim- ler Mercedes. Their American plants not only make vehicles for buyers here. The plants build for sale abroad. ...

The president has a point about making improvements to the trading system. Clear, too, is that there are better ways to achieve the repairs. Again, many countries have a legitimate beef with China. Band together to apply international pressure, an opportunity missed in exiting the Trans Pacific Partnership. Negotiate with others while being prepared to give in areas where Americans have erected trade barriers.

Read the full editorial from the Akron Beacon Journal at bit.ly/2uikZ6n