So, let's not do that then

Ikea is entirely correct here:

The boss of Ikea has told the BBC he fears that global trade tensions will lead to higher prices for customers.

Jesper Brodin, chief executive of Ingka Group, which is the furniture giant's holding company, said imposing restrictions such as tariffs "normally doesn't benefit the ordinary people".

Perhaps we should revise that headline slightly. The “normally” is incorrect, tariffs never benefit the ordinary people.

Taxing people just because they desire to buy something made or built by foreigners never does benefit those people. That being exactly what a tariff is, a tax upon buying something made or built by foreigners.

As tariffs don’t benefit us out here, us ordinary people, therefore we should not have them.

As is easily derived from both Adam Smith and David Ricardo the only logical or even sensible trade stance is unilateral free trade. So, that’s what we should do then, clearly. Further, this is the first time in 40 years that we can do this so this is the right time to do so as well.

Yes, we know we keep banging on about this but the wisdom is over 200 years old now. We’ve even done it before, in 1846, and it worked. It’s just that so few of those in power wish to believe it that it needs to be banged on about.