#4. They are very much like a tax. They are imposed on importers but importers simply increase the price to offset the tariffs which ultimately gets paid by the consumer. Ironically, lefties claim this DOESN'T happen when corporate tax rates are increased.

" It didn't in the 50's"

First, don't confuse actual rate vs marginal rate. Second, the 50s were unique. Overseas manufacturing was cratered due to WWII but none of it was fought on out turf. Massive demand existed for US manufactured goods because little else was available during that time. This enabled our manufacturers to pay very high wages to workers. It was great while it lasted. By the time the 70's had rolled around auto manufacturing in particular had grown, fat, lazy and less competitive. It came to a head 8n the 80's when Germany and Japan's auto industries were kicking our butts on our own turf. Big changes had to happen.

Again though, tariffs affect market pricing the same way corporate taxes do. Are you going to try and deny that?

One more thing that contributed to high wages: worker demand. During WWII we lost over 400,000 working age men. Post war thos3 loseses made workers more Val able.