President Donald J. Trump is a consummate salesman and a master marketer. On April 2nd, Liberation Day, the day he announced his worldwide tariffs, it was a presentation long on benefits but short on costs.

Like any salesman, Trump was anxious to “sell” the country on the benefits of this new import tax. The new tariffs would have a short, one-time boost in prices, while providing a lasting income stream to “even the playing field” in international trade, said Trump.