Cable News Clips

In fact, they all seem to get it wrong, even Lawrence O'Donnell got it wrong.

A tariff is design for the country charging a tariff to even the playing field for their domestic product.

Example
Foreign Country X manufactures a pair of shoes for $5, imports them into the US & charges $20 for that pair of shoes.
Another company in the US manufactures a comparable if not better, pair of shoes for $15 and charges $30 for that pair of shoes.
Obviously the consumer will most likely by the $20 pair of shoes and soon the US company goes out of business.

Now the US decides to charge a $10 tariff for each pair of shoes imported into the US.
This increases Foreign Country X pair of shoes from $5 to $15 matching the US pair. So now both companies are charging $30 for their shoes.
At this point the fun begins, because the consumer has to decide which of the 2 pairs of shoes have better quality & style.

If the US consumer still buys the Foreign Country X shoes, then yes the US consumers are paying for the increase.

But if the US consumer buys the better quality US made shoes, the Foreign Country X company either goes out of business or lowers the price to the consumers & makes less profit per pair.
Also, by buying the US pair, the US company continues to employ the US workers and the money stays in the US.

Let me know if you understand, agree or disagree.and why.