What are the potential economic impacts and criticisms of President Trump's tariff strategy according to financial experts?

According to the Wall Street Journal's analysis, Trump's tariff strategy creates significant market uncertainty through inconsistent implementation - threatening tariffs one day and offering reprieves the next. This unpredictable approach hurts U.S. business investment and creates a volatile environment that resembles a "stress test" for financial markets. The editorial board argues that these erratic tariff policies actually benefit China's Xi Jinping by encouraging other countries to strengthen ties with Beijing rather than the United States. Additionally, the obvious consequence of increased tariffs is higher prices for American consumers, as Trump's economic team was directly questioned about this inevitable outcome. The overall assessment suggests that while tariffs might theoretically promote U.S. job growth and lower global trade barriers, the current implementation strategy is counterproductive to America's long-term economic interests.