If Republican Jobs Relied on Protectionism

We'd Build a Wall Around Our Country

Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney said America should reject " a growing clamor for protectionism" because it would "virtually guarantee we become a second class economy.
Mitt must be pretty comfortable with the US trade deficit running over $675 billion each year. The US has lost over a half million jobs since 1998 directly because of our trade deficit. I guess they weren't Republican jobs.
So let's take a look at how horrible tariffs are and how they've crippled trade in the countries that use them to protect their industries.
The Japanese seem to be pretty smart traders.We buy $75 billion more of their stuff each year than they buy of ours. So they probably don't have any tariffs, right? Well actually Japan's 400% tariff on imported rice has riled rice farmers in the American south for years. Worse, the yen was manipulated for years creating an inflated dollar, a de facto tarriff making all US imports play on a slanted field.
Korea exports a slew of merchandise to America. In fact they enjoyed a $30 billion trade surplus in 2005. But Korean cars captured 6% of the US auto market (731,000 cars in 2005) while shutting US automakers out of the country. The Republicans must be amused at what poor economists they are.
The Chinese seem to know a thing or two about global trade. In 2006 our trade imbalance with China was at least $175 billion. But Chinese tariffs on imported cars run 25 - 28% while imported auto parts tariffs were cut to 10%. Mitt should warn them that they're only hurting themselves.
Romney also endorsed extending Bush's tax cuts for the rich which will expire in three years. He claims the economy will be hurt if they expire.
So America loses a half million jobs solely due to the trade deficit and the average Joe watches the rich enjoy bountiful tax cuts, but hey, Republicans think things are working out just fine.
I dunno, do ya think Mitt maybe has his silver baby spoon still stuck in his mouth?