I agree with you. Way too many double messages out there. One minute they say the US economy is great, only 4% unemployment. The next minute they say we have to lower the taxes, and reverse the trade imbalance, to help US Businesses, workers, and consumers, that need more spending money.
TPTB have Trump asking for paybacks or handouts from various countries around the world. China et al may not WANT to take less. Who ever wants to give back what they already got?? They call it “locking in your profits”.
The USA can’t ask. The USA has to somehow just TAKE back what it gave away.