Earlier quoted context omitted.
"Essentially low tariffs make it hard for local industries to get themselves above the price floor." This applies to both countries.
The point is that it's asymmetrical. The US produces high value products (high tech bearings, specialized software), stuff whose value is lower than the cost of transport (paper) and extractive goods (mining and agriculture). Other countries are more competitive on the low end stuff. Look at electronics: yes, China has tons of people building phones, but Chinese companies get about $20 on each iPhone; other parts of…
I would not describe any situation that results in perpetual bribery to stave off war ideal. That's extremely unfair to the American taxpayer. I would much rather spend that money on our own military so that we can have peace through strength. What you propose makes the American worker a slave to the rest of the world in an aims to appease them into not competing. That is ridiculous in my opinion as companies like Huawei prove that the competition is already here. Second, how are we ever going to compete when we keep sending them the designs for our latest gadgets? We're giving away the IP in exchange for cheap labor again at the expense of the American worker. China is going to be a major player in the next century and we had best prepare.