If you look at those tariffs from the PoV of economic and external policies, they sound a lot like “I’ll shit myself so others will need to smell it”. They’re a bit harmful to other countries, sure, as each lost one reliable trading partner; USA, though, lost all of them.

And yes, all of them. Even governments and businesses from countries not deeply affected by the tariffs are seeing USA as a high risk partner, looking for alternatives, and at least my country (Brazil) is deepening ties with China.

But I digress. I think that what’s going on is about USA’s internal policy; if you put it side-to-side with other things like

• forcing businesses to call the Gulf of Mexico by some esoteric name;
• harassing universities;
• removing government staff based on political allegiance; etc.

then you realise that it’s all about loyalty towards Trump himself and his agenda. This taco-haired clown is trying to keep himself and his buds in power forever there, and for that he needs support.