The election of President Trump and his use of trade tariffs as a central economic policy tool has reignited debate over their broader economic implications. The White House contends that these "reciprocal" measures are fully justified on the basis of the trading practices of major trading partners with the additional benefit of providing the stimulus for repatriation of manufacturing back to the United States. That may be the case but experience shows that tariffs as a long-term tactic are best avoided on all sides.