> When two people make a deal, voluntarily, at least rationally (unless it is charity) both expect to be better off.

That is not how the current US administration seems to see (foreign) trade. :)

Unless you take the skeptical view that the US administration does not represent the people but rather merely the administration and its ilk, who stand to profit immensely if they are in cahoots with corrupt import/export smugglers or are trading for gains in some of the few winners, or even just shorting the losers.