President Trump has not, as the Wall Street Journal claimed on Saturday, unleashed “the Dumbest Trade War in History;” at least not in respect of Mexico and Communist China. It may, though, be in contention for that honor in respect of Canada. In holding Mexico and China, as the president claims, “accountable to their promises of ending illegal immigration and stopping the flow of deadly fentanyl and other drugs into our country,” the steps he is taking are justifiable.

They have abused Mexico’s status in the tripartite North American Free Trade Agreement, and have  effectively facilitated an invasion of destitute people across the southern border of the United States while also being complicit in the illegal entry into America of a large number of dangerous criminals and a horrifying quantity of lethal narcotics. The offenses that Mexico and China have inflicted on the United States are substantially economic and this justifies strong economic counter-measures against Mexico and China.