That is why it doesn't work. Because everyone cheats otherwise there would be no trade imbalances to begin with. I don't blame the other countries for cheating us. I blame us for allowing them to cheat us.
Obviously the Chinese don't care whether we respect them based on their characters. So if they have a low standard for honor how do you expect compliance?
I think the Europeans are just desperate. I think that highly socialized countries will always have trouble competing against less socialized countries because their industry is paying the cost for all those programs and the price of their products reflects that. But it isn't like they are not getting something for services that they force their economy to support. And I imagine that they perceive this as an unfair advantage, that we are more frugal, and that we spend less on services but it isn't like we are not doing without these services. Europe's decision of how much to spend isn't our problem and we should not allow them to make it our problem. It is their problem and they need to decide what they can afford and stop trying to get us pay for it. And besides, the level of socialism between us and them is starting to equalize so I think they can stop stashing our dollars.
Free trade only works between honest trading partners. And one thing I have learned in life is that when it comes to how people get their things they get in life, they can always justify making someone else pay for some of what they get. And they figure out a way to frame it so it seems like they are not doing anything bad to preserve their self perception of honor. You just need to ignore their selfish rationalizations and demand an equal playing field not care if they try to shame you with criticisms that shifts the advantages toward them. Because they are just being beggars in some cases and thieves in other cases.
I could never be a diplomat. Standing around listing to people trying to BS you and not knowing if they are just ideologically brainwashed or cunning manipulators. But then I guess it doesn't matter. You should treat either one the same.