The Balance of Trade (and Labor)

In the past couple of months, there is growing concern about the global impact of President Trump's initiative to install tariffs on imports from China. Most media outlets have lots to say about how this change will hurt our economy and the investment markets. Before jumping on the bandwagon and making the obvious point that if we have to pay more for goods, that cannot be a good thing. I'd like to offer some understandable insight as to what President Trump might actually be attempting to accomplish, and why it matters. Consider the economic problems the USA has faced for the past decade as fallout from the 08' Great Recession - Despite low unemployment statistics, only 62% or so of our population is working full time. (source: JPMorgan)