[missedthecue]

At a certain level it can lead otherwise competitive companies to rest on their laurels.

On another level, it would be game over without them. For example, US shipyards would simply stop existing without protection. There is no management strategy or measure they could implement that could compete with Asian shipyards.

[mkleczek]

The theory is that in both cases (ie. with and without tariffs) shipyards are going to die sooner or later. It is better for the society to let them die as soon as possible and direct efforts to things we are better at while taking advantage of cheaper ships produced elsewhere.

[etempleton]

Some industries are of national security or other strategic value, so protecting them even if that means some stagnation is desirable over the offshoring of said industry.

[randyrand]

just don't outsource your means of defense!

[softwaredoug]

Sure I can see the argument for national security. And to balance out Chinese companies own rent seeking.

OTOH still strategically it’s not great. As the Asian companies have an actual market, this will lead Asian manufacturers to have better ships than comparable US ones.