APICS Debate on Tariffs

David S. Jacoby, CTL, CEP, CFPIM, CSCP, CIRM, C.P.M., President of Boston Strategies International, squared off against Mark Chockalingam, MBA, Ph.D., and Founder & President of DemandPlanning.Net, in a debate on US tariffs. One debater argued that China has been gaming the world trade system for decades and that it has built its current dominant position based on an un-level playing field; hence the tariffs are warranted and necessary. The other debater argued that only a small number of manufacturers will benefit from the reprieve in competition, while consumers and a larger number of other industries will pay the price in the long run. After each presenter made his points in 20 minutes, the debate was moved to the audience, which participated actively in a lively continuation and extension of the points raised.