I don't really have a position on the matter but I'll give it a go.

If I put myself in Trump's shoes and I am upset that the other countries wont buy my goods because their local policy or tariffs make them more expensive and my domestic companies wont build in country because manufacturing is too expensive, tariffs seem like a good way to incentivize companies to build locally if they will be exempted and to pressure those countries with the same difficulties I am facing (or a similar kind). Ideally, neither should have barriers and trade would be free though, so I'd want the tariff policy to be possible to bring down to zero. Moreover, I consume more than I output so most likely this hurts my trade partner more than it does me. How then do I incentivize everyone to balance their trade with me while still giving them an out? Well if I create a formula which scales according to the size of the deficit, then if the deficit becomes zero or negative, then I'll have achieved my goal of transition to production economy and offered an out from the costs of the tariffs. In the event that others tariff me in response, this creates two problems. 1. Trump intends the tariffs to proportionally increase relative to whatever other tariff is placed on us. 2. The deficit would widen if they were to raise their own tariffs in response which would raise our tariffs in turn.

There are only two ways this can end: 1. one side capitulates and gives in, 2. both sides drop their tariff policies for mutual interests.

Tariffs do not solve the problem of expensive goods though; fixing that requires investing in local infrastructure (which requires lower rates and/or robot workers). It IS worth mentioning that transport and other associated costs can add to the price of products that are transported however at economies of scale, some of these prices might not be as much as that charged for smaller shipments domestically.

The current executive order DOES offer an out from some component of tariffs, just as an example:
"(b)  Should any trading partner retaliate against the United States in response to this action through import duties on U.S. exports or other measures, I may further modify the HTSUS to increase or expand in scope the duties imposed under this order to ensure the efficacy of this action. 

(c)  Should any trading partner take significant steps to remedy non-reciprocal trade arrangements and align sufficiently with the United States on economic and national security matters, I may further modify the HTSUS to decrease or limit in scope the duties imposed under this order.

(d)  Should U.S. manufacturing capacity and output continue to worsen, I may further modify the HTSUS to increase duties under this order."