for which you definitely should not get slammed.
There's the libertarian view that markets should not be interfered with all and that they regulate themselves though supply and demand. They oppose anything like tariffs or barriers to international trade. They oppose nation states and borders, too, so their perspective (IMHO) is kind of Utopian and ignores reality. In a perfect world, their views might work but it's not a perfect world.
When I mentioned a protectionist policy with respect to tariffs, I mean between nations. Your example of a solar industry was between states and favoring one or the other is commonly referred to as picking winners and losers which I certainly oppose. However, when it comes to China replacing US industry and jobs, I would favor protecting US industry, business and jobs. I clearly remember when this globalization all began and president Clinton gave a speech about it saying something like, "American workers are going to have become competitive". That set off alarm bells for me because the implication was that the American worker was going to have to compete with the Chinese worker. Well, the rest is history and we just lost/gave away American industry, jobs and the self reliance that goes with that. Well, who does that benefit? Corporations. Yeah, the American public "benefited" by gaining access to cheap shit from China - often made by nearly slave labor - but AFAIC that's a loss, both morally and economically. It worked out well for Wally World and the Walton family.
Anyway and ultimately, and as I said, I don't know much about any of this tariff stuff, but my goal would be to re-build US manufacturing. If a product that is popular or needed isn't made here, then no tariff but get busy making it here, again. If it's something that the US provides for itself (is there anything left? - I don't know) then you don't wreck that industry and the jobs that go with it just to get it cheaper from overseas so you'd put a tariff on the import. It's not one answer and everything needs to be evaluated on a case by case basis.
I have a friend who has a landscaping business. He has a shed full of vintage lawn equipment and ALL of it was made in the USA (50's - 70s) . Why in the world if you can make rakes and hoes and lawnmowers in the US, providing decent jobs right here, would you not do that? What sense does it make to have sold those industries off to China? Now take an example like that for something vitally important like transformers or antibiotics. Being able to rely on yourself and be an exporter is far better than being dependent. Doesn't that seem like a no brainer? I don't think anyone needs to be a trade expert or economist to figure that out.
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