That it was predictable does not make it any the less damaging. Barack Obama's decision to impose safeguard tariffs on imported Chinese tyres suggests that, when forced to come off the fence on trade policy, he generally dismounts on the wrong side.

The arguments about why this decision is a bad one stack up relentlessly. First, it involves protecting an industry that does not want to be protected. American tyre manufacturers have not even been asking for tariffs: this complaint came from labour unions in the steel industry, which supplies tyre makers. Competition (and technological change) can create real hardship and uncertainty in US manufacturing, but the number of jobs likely to be saved via such actions is minimal.

Second, since these safeguards are only applicable against China – part of the price it paid for joining the World Trade Organisation in 2001 – any gap in supply will most likely be filled by tyres from other low-cost developing countries, not an increase in US production.