@Zeb nah, you need domestic resources to supply domestic manufacturing. usa is lacking, it has a massive trade deficit because it uses usd as main export. so imposing taxes on imports will dwindle domestic production and make everything imported or that depends on imports expensive for domestic consumers. which will in turn lower their purchasing volume. sure, it will bring in some money into gov's coffers but only for s short while. then the quality of life will plummet like a rock.