Trump now threatens the European Union with tariffs on $11 billion of E.U. products.  As a nationalist, not an internationalist, the president is focused on the best interest of the American worker and American business.  Tariffs are a tool he's more than willing to use.   Historically, Republicans have always been for restrictions on free trade.  As Abraham Lincoln said in 1847, "give us a protective tariff, and we shall have the greatest nation on earth."  Protectionism goes all the way back to Alexander Hamilton's "Report on Manufactures."  The second bill signed by President Washington was the Tariff Act of 1789, imposing a broad 5% tariff.  It was gradually increased and stood at 40% in 1820.  From 1820 to the end of World War II, American industry was the most protected in the world.  High tariffs were coincident with economic growth.  Between 1871 and...(Read Full Post)