>yawning trade deficit between China and the U.S.

But why does a trade deficit between two specific economies (even the largest ones) mean anything in and of itself? And how would punitive tariffs, which are sure to be responded to in kind, help citizens of the US? If we have a trade deficit with a country, meaning we take in more of their goods than they take in of ours, how is this a good idea?

I find it helpful in our current political climate to start by asking, "What if this isn't a completely new paradigm 4D game of political chess but rather idiots doing dumb things?" Given we have seen this particular game played hundreds of times in the past by similarly economically-illiterate ideologues, assuming a different result this time because It's the Future seems hopelessly naive.