Want Government to Work Better? Then Have It Do Fewer Things.

Last month, President Joseph Biden announced new tariffs on steel and aluminum, semiconductors, electric vehicles and some other items. His administration argues this action is retaliation for “China’s unfair trade practices” and aims to “protect American workers and businesses.”

Cynics allege Biden is trying to appeal to voters considering voting for Donald J. Trump, who has thundered on and on about China and bad trade deals for years. Whatever President Biden’s motives, there is no doubt the Chinese government has a record of misbehavior, including thieving intellectual property, peddling illicit goods, using forced labor and pilfering sensitive technologies…

Whatever one may think about tariffs and tax cut extensions as public policy, one thing is worth recognizing: Self-interested groups that benefit from these temporary policies are advocating on behalf of them and want them to become permanent.

Continue reading at The Hill.