That new sanctions imposed upon Russia as a result of the Novichok and Skripal events is not greatly surprising, as the Washington Examiner‘s Tom Rogan details. What interests me is the underlying logical error being made here. For Trump insists in this case, as is true, that being denied access to foreign-made goods is something that impoverishes the people of Russia – the Russian economy as a whole will be worse off as a result of not being able to buy those now-sanctioned American goods.

This is correct by the way: Either Russian industry and/or consumers will have to do without the items, or domestic resources will have to be diverted from what they currently produce to replace those imports no longer available. Either option makes them poorer. It’s also true that American industry will be harmed, as they’ll no longer have willing buyers for their production. But that’s, for my purposes here, a minor matter.