If we are to have a "trade war" with China, it would be best to win it. We should be better off after the fighting. Unfortunately, the chances of this happening seem slim to none, because President Donald Trump's plan of attack suggests that everyone — us and them — will lose.

Interestingly, there's broad agreement over some of our war goals. Here's economist Peter Navarro, director of the White House Trade Council, writing in The Wall Street Journal:

"The Chinese government ... [has] audacious plans to dominate emerging technology industries. Many of these targeted sectors, such as artificial intelligence and robotics, have clear implications for defense. China seeks to achieve its goal of economic and military domination in part by acquiring the best American technology and intellectual property."