Trump's proposed tariffs are the retaliation

One of the hysterical objections from those who oppose President Trump's proposed tariffs on imported steel and aluminum is that he is going to start a trade war, because other countries will retaliate with tariffs of their own. There's one very big problem with that argument: Other countries already have such tariffs. In fact, President Trump's proposal isn't the start to anything. He is the one retaliating against the unfair tariffs already levied by other countries. In an interview last week on CNBC, Nucor CEO John Ferriola pointed out that the European Union imposes a 25 percent value-added tax on just about all goods coming into its member nations from outside. That puts American manufacturers at a distinct disadvantage as they seek to penetrate EU markets. Where is all the shrieking about the EU starting a trade war?