I don't think Americans buy European things because they're cost competitive. Most European goods already have cheaper American equivalents. Pushing prices up will just hurt Americans who want European stuff, but they'll continue to buy at the higher price. If anything it'll benefit Europe, because the price won't be going back to what it was when the tariff is eventually removed.

Does anyone else feel like this is an attempt at a poisoned chalice?

If the opposition does well in the mid-terms they have an utter shitshow to clean up, but if that doesn’t happen they get to pull out their own splinter and claim a victory.

I’m really hopeful the rest of the world continues to strengthen trade and cooperation in the absence of US leadership and stability.

[dupe] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46659651

there is a fuck of a lot of euro high precision and refined manufacturing equipment used in the US, this will hurt small/medium business, and underscores why Chinese social media call him "Comrade Trump", the best friend they have ever had in Washington, as the price point toggles over to Chinese alternatives, and it's China, they can pivot and scale, fast. And for Canada all the shifting and flipping is disruptive, but we are able to attract the best of the best from international skilled trades, scientists, and other proffesions, AND get realy good trade deals, while bringing a strong awareness that well, fuck it, work is good, doing things is good, we have something here worth working for and the contrasts have never been so stark, and it's Canada , we are generaly used to a bit of adversity , and it gives you an appetite.

When your only tool is a hammer every problem is a nail.