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Postal traffic to US down by over 80% amid tariffs, UN says

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Re: Postal traffic to US down by over 80% amid tariffs, UN says

#41

Post by ffsm8 »

philwelch wrote: post #34
kaitai wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There has long been a desire to privatize the USPS, so this also fits neatly into the narrative that the USPS should not be a public good.

A public good is a good that is both non-rivalrous and non-excludable. Establishing a federal monopoly doesn’t turn the product of that monopoly into a public good. Likewise, a public good can be provided by a non-government entity.

It's public and good though. ( ๑ ´ • .̫ • ` ๑ )

Jokes aside, I getting hung up on that term in this context feels unnecessary, it was quiet clear what kaitai was talking about from the text he wrote.

Re: Postal traffic to US down by over 80% amid tariffs, UN says

#42

Post by bee_rider »

wqaatwt wrote: post #29
nothercastle wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In think a lot of those good are simply not flowing anymore. Suddenly a bunch a products are from companies around the world are no longer viable to sell until current stock is purged and the price of everything goes up. A lot of vendors are still locked in with pre-tarrif pricing to big box stores so all of them need to go bankrupt before the full price increase takes effect.

EU did this years ago when they started applying VAT on small packages. You can still easily buy as much Chinese stuff as you lik, though. Chaos and uncertainty seem like a much bigger issue in the US than forcing foreign retailers to compete on an even footing with local sellers.

A VAT is specifically designed to try and distort the market less (by taxing the value added at each step). With a tariff the whole point in the distortion, the goal is to make the imported goods less competitive.

Re: Postal traffic to US down by over 80% amid tariffs, UN says

#43

Post by iwontberude »

kaitai wrote: post #22
orochimaaru wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If 80% of postal traffic was commercial and just being used to not pay duty/tariffs, then the tariffs are achieving what was intended. I don’t like the broad application of tariffs that is implemented today. They should have been better targeted. But this is one area where they are achieving what was intended.

Don't worry, it also hits birthday cards from my cousins, Christmas presents from my siblings, care packages with those favorite candies and coffees that aren't sold in the US. My sibling can't send me hand-knit items or hand-me-down kids items, items truly of de minimis monetary value. It may be accomplishing what was intended -- but I don't think that people in the US (even those paying attention) understand what w…

Edit: Sorry I didn’t read the article fully, I had just woken up.

Re: Postal traffic to US down by over 80% amid tariffs, UN says

#44

Post by throwawayohio »

kilroy123 wrote: post #28
enraged_camel wrote: post #4

Like many others, I'm of the opinion that shit is about to hit the fan in terms of the economy. Too many alarm bells, too many attempts by the admin to cover up and distract from the pillars starting to show cracks. I hope the recession ends up being smaller in length and magnitude than the 2008-2009 recession because that one wrecked an entire generation in terms of wealth and psychology.

"History doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes." I think there will be a depression, not just a recession. I really hope I'm wrong.

I think you're right, unfortunately. Looking at the causes and the current actions of the US government (and, other governments worldwide tbh), this looks like an almost deliberate attempt to create a new class divide and supply of low-education workers. A depression would cement this. If you aren't already rich by the time it really kicks off, you probably won't make it out.

Re: Postal traffic to US down by over 80% amid tariffs, UN says

#46

Post by ptero »

mmastrac wrote: post #18
enraged_camel wrote: post #4

Like many others, I'm of the opinion that shit is about to hit the fan in terms of the economy. Too many alarm bells, too many attempts by the admin to cover up and distract from the pillars starting to show cracks. I hope the recession ends up being smaller in length and magnitude than the 2008-2009 recession because that one wrecked an entire generation in terms of wealth and psychology.

From someone outside the US (Canada) and in a country that's been abused by its giant next-door neighbour -- longer than just the current, explicit abuse -- I kinda hope this recession is deep and hurts badly. We've already seen some huge, positive structural changes to our economy and a down-and-out, bleeding US will have nothing but positive effects for the rest of us. I'd have some sympathy but this is an entirely…

As a US citizen I wish Canada well. US needs serious competition and IMO the ideas of economic world group hugs, globalization benefiting everyone, etc. are no longer working. They may have been net positive initially, but are not anymore.

Unfortunately starting the rebalancing often requires a crisis. I hope the next one will lead to a world with several stronger, independent and competing clusters, not a weaker, beaten up version of the current setup.

Re: Postal traffic to US down by over 80% amid tariffs, UN says

#47

Post by toast0 »

mmastrac wrote: post #18
enraged_camel wrote: post #4

Like many others, I'm of the opinion that shit is about to hit the fan in terms of the economy. Too many alarm bells, too many attempts by the admin to cover up and distract from the pillars starting to show cracks. I hope the recession ends up being smaller in length and magnitude than the 2008-2009 recession because that one wrecked an entire generation in terms of wealth and psychology.

From someone outside the US (Canada) and in a country that's been abused by its giant next-door neighbour -- longer than just the current, explicit abuse -- I kinda hope this recession is deep and hurts badly. We've already seen some huge, positive structural changes to our economy and a down-and-out, bleeding US will have nothing but positive effects for the rest of us. I'd have some sympathy but this is an entirely…

At least in 2024, the US was the largest importer of Canadian exports, by a large margin.

If the US economy is in recession, it likely means less spending in general and so less spending on Canadian goods which is likely a problem for the Canadian economy. I'm sure there would be some benefits for Canada as well, but in a connected world economy, when one major country suffers, it's negative for most other countries.

That said, yeah it'd be nice if we (US) learned a lesson here, but we don't seem to be quick learners.

Re: Postal traffic to US down by over 80% amid tariffs, UN says

#48

Post by xhkkffbf »

As much as I like getting cheap things for next to nothing, I have always been horrified about the way that the Chinese firms were able to price things at next to nothing on eBay. Why? All because the postal treaty allowed the Chinese post office to dump all of the delivery costs on the Americans.

The costs need to be apportioned accurately and the Chinese firms were getting a great deal on the backs of the regular postal users in the US.

Re: Postal traffic to US down by over 80% amid tariffs, UN says

#49

Post by ptero »

ehnto wrote: post #37
ants_everywhere wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who are you imagining will step into the power vacuum if the US collapses economically?

China is by far the most likely candidate, if it navigates its aging demographic issue well.

China has many internal problems and is not looking for the world dominance, at least not in the medium term. It wants to continue building up its economy, not get involved in conflicts on the other side of the world. Rapid expansions lead to societal changes at home and is something China is really keen to avoid today. My 2c.
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