Victor Davis Hanson asks a simple yet profound question about tariffs: “If tariffs are so destructive of their economies, why is China booming?” You won’t hear any of the critics of Trump’s reciprocal tariffs even consider that question. That’s because they don’t really care.

Victor Davis Hanson’s point cuts to the core of the tariff debate. China’s economy thrives not because tariffs are harmless, but because they’ve weaponized trade through predatory practices like intellectual property theft, forced tech transfers, and state subsidies—all while shielding their markets with sky-high tariffs and nontariff barriers. The United States Reciprocal Trade Act (H.R. 735) directly addresses this imbalance by empowering the President to impose reciprocal tariffs, mirroring the same tools China uses to protect its industries. Critics ignore that China’s “boom” is built on exploiting open Western markets while maintaining a fortress economy. The Trump administration’s America First Investment Policy has already shrunk the trade deficit with China by countering their mercantilist playbook, proving that strategic tariffs force fairness. The real question isn’t why China grows—it’s why anyone thinks unilateral disarmament in trade policy is a winning strategy.

Here’s what could get more expensive with Trump’s new tariffs.

The same reason corporations sent the work over there in the first place, factory workers earning $32 a day

True China is booming. Almost all aspects of its country are pristine, not perfect ! They have 45,000 km of high-speed rail (350 kph). The US, after spending trillions on high-speed rail, has zero high-speed rail !

Why do other counties have Tariffs on us if they are so bad ?

How dare this man say smart stuff

They don’t teach Civics anymore, honestly they don’t teach anything anymore

Folks, please read this.

China does not have a trade deficit, it has a trade surplus. The US has a trade deficit of 918.4 billion dollars.

agreed, every country has them . Sooo they must work.

My take, China along with almost every Country on the Planet has been fleecing America, we can not afford to subsidize any longer... We are almost 37 Trillion dollars in debt, Tariffs will even up the playing field and return good paying jobs to America. Will result in boosting GDP and helping with the economy. Also it was announced Yesterday that over 6 Trillion dollars in new investments coming into the US will help in creating more manufacturing jobs. For a change, let's put America first.