, Columnist
Imports Are Good, Mr. President
Stuff made overseas isn't the drag on growth Trump thinks.
Fear not.
Photographer: Qilai Shen/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
President Donald Trump last week tweeted a declaration that his tariffs on Chinese goods had boosted U.S. economic growth in the first quarter of 2019:
Why does Trump think the tariffs boosted the economy? It’s possible that he doesn’t have a reason in mind. But it’s also possible that he thinks output rose because imports fell. If this is what Trump means, then his claim is on very shaky grounds.