Tariffs are Bad, M’Kay?

So British governance is edging toward economic reality then:

Sir Keir Starmer is suspending import tariffs on dozens of goods to shore up British companies caught in Donald Trump’s trade war.

Duty on 89 products from electric car batteries to fruit juice will be cut to zero for two years in a major state intervention to ease pressure on firms.

Aluminium wheels and electric vehicle battery inputs will be among the goods to have tariffs reduced to cut costs for British businesses in the wake of Mr Trump’s raid on US imports.

So taxing people for buying the best product for their needs - whether on price, reliability, delivery time or any other reason that enters their pretty little heads - is a bad idea then.

Good, good, we begin at least to approach reality.

The thing is, is British governance ready for that next logical step? If Tariffs are Bad, M’Kay, then can we just conclude that Tariffs are Bad, M’Kay?

So, let’s not have tariffs because Tariffs are Bad, M’Kay?

We know, we know, bit of an extreme hope there, proper Hail Mary pass stuff. But British governance did once know this, back in 1846. So there is that little feathered thing there, no?

Tim Worstall