Trump has been talking about intellectual property issues and using the tariffs as leverage in those discussion. That is, exactly what your third paragraph was saying, except that he isn't talking about labor or environmental protections - which you seem to be implying are the only two places where they can work.
I don't agree with Trumps' strategy, but I can see what he is trying. We will see if they work long term.
> Trump has been talking about intellectual property issues
IP is a capital issue; tightening IP protections reinforces the relative power of capital on all sides of a trade regime.
> That is, exactly what your third paragraph was saying, except that he isn't talking about labor or environmental protection
Yes, it's exactly what I'm talking about except for being completely different and benefitting a narrow interest rather than a broad one.
> which you seem to be implying are the only two places where they can work.
No, they can work as leverage on any issue; labor and environmental issues are just the critical ones where they would have broad benefits to the Sheridan public because they would address the problem of the choice between making local conditions worse and losing jobs.
I don't agree with Trumps' strategy, but I can see what he is trying. We will see if they work long term.