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Only Teslas exempt from new auto tariffs thanks to 85% domestic content rule

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Re: Only Teslas exempt from new auto tariffs thanks to 85% domestic content rule

#411

Post by ithkuil »

davidw wrote: post #343
leereeves wrote: post #286

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is not business as usual, no matter how much this administration tries to pretend it is. Rules that favor a politically connected company over others is absolutely business as usual. It's the foundation of the multi-billion dollar lobbying industry.

What is different is the scale and blatant nature of it with this administration. Yes, 'well connected' counted in the past. Now it's "buy my crypto thing directly" or "talk with me about exceptions to the tariffs". If there was a faint whiff of something untoward in the past, this is the Augean Stables.

Yes.

For some weird psychological reason though a lot of people seem to prefer that the corruption is explicit and open perhaps because the hidden aspect of it makes it easy to imagine more nefarious things happening while when it's blatant like this it's easier to minimize it with a "what's the big deal, it's just a little tax cut for Tesla".

Re: Only Teslas exempt from new auto tariffs thanks to 85% domestic content rule

#412

Post by goatlover »

fallingknife wrote: post #380
bunderbunder wrote: post #211

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have come to believe that many people's political attitudes can be boiled down to a single uniting element: an overwhelming fear that other people might do to them the kinds of things that they would absolutely do to other people if given half a chance.

A very rational fear for anyone who has any knowledge of history. There aren't any good or bad guys in this fight.

The bad guys are the one in power right now trying to turn the US democracy into an autocracy, following the Project2025 playbook and what other autocrats have done like Putin. This isn't a normal administration.

Re: Only Teslas exempt from new auto tariffs thanks to 85% domestic content rule

#413

Post by vlovich123 »

somenameforme wrote: post #378
chipsrafferty wrote: post #373

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But how do you determine where to divide objects into components?

There's a much more informative article here. [1] It's by value. And it's not just domestic only but USMCA (US-Mexico-Canada). And the tariffs are seemingly prorated by percent 'domestic' (their example math is nonsensical, but I think that was just a math fail on the writer's part) with numerous relief and rebate options available to help ease in the transition period for various auto manufacturers. GM, Ford, and ot…

> GM, Ford, and other companies have chimed in positively.

Given how Amazon tried to start showing the cost of the tariffs on their site, Trump publicly threatened them, and they backed down with hours, I’m not so sure I read too much into anyone praising the policies of this government as it’s clear that companies are erring on the side of staying on this governments good graces publicly regardless of personal opinions.

Re: Only Teslas exempt from new auto tariffs thanks to 85% domestic content rule

#414

Post by theyinwhy »

yongjik wrote: post #119

I was thinking about buying an EV in the next several years, but I'll never buy a Tesla, until I see Elon Musk in prison. And I don't think I'm alone. Major effect of Trump's trade war is yet to be felt. I think Americans' perception of Trump will get much worse soon, and Tesla's brand image will follow suit. A tariff exemption is cute but I don't think that's enough to save Tesla.

Tesla [...] losing $15.3 billion in brand value: https://brandfinance.com/press-releases/toyota-is-the-worlds...

Re: Only Teslas exempt from new auto tariffs thanks to 85% domestic content rule

#415

Post by tritipsocial »

This headline is misleading because it makes it seem like tariffs are a step function that activate below 85%, which isn't true.

The formula is a simple, linear equation: tariffs = 0.25 * MSRP * (percent foreign content - 15)

Companies with 84% domestic content will pay a 25% tariff on 1% of the MSRP, companies with 70% domestic content will pay a 25% tariff on 15% of the MSRP, etc.

This is a common sense way to incentivize companies to make parts here without requiring perfection.

Here is the proclamation:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/amen...

Re: Only Teslas exempt from new auto tariffs thanks to 85% domestic content rule

#416

Post by HWR_14 »

protocolture wrote: post #331
leereeves wrote: post #238

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's pure speculation, but quite possible. Corruption is nothing new in Washington. The real question is whether people support bringing auto manufacturing back to America. As always, people who like the policy/candidate/official will overlook the corruption, while people who dislike the policy/candidate/official complain about it. The people who demanded evidence about Biden will accept speculation about Trump, ju…

American labor is low quality and high cost. China is no longer a guarantee of cheap and terrible like it used to be. If america wants to make shit again they need to compete on cost terms and quality terms. Honestly the biggest issue I have seen with US companies trying to manufacture goods is that they tend to only target US customers. Especially at the low end. There must be some quirk with US postage where it is…

> some quirk with US postage where it is cheaper to buy foreign goods than it is to purchase outgoing postage.

International rates (or the system that runs it) were decided a long time ago. The international postal system was set up so that all developing countries (which still includes China) are subsidized by developed countries.

Re: Only Teslas exempt from new auto tariffs thanks to 85% domestic content rule

#417

Post by epicureanideal »

protocolture wrote: post #331
leereeves wrote: post #238

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's pure speculation, but quite possible. Corruption is nothing new in Washington. The real question is whether people support bringing auto manufacturing back to America. As always, people who like the policy/candidate/official will overlook the corruption, while people who dislike the policy/candidate/official complain about it. The people who demanded evidence about Biden will accept speculation about Trump, ju…

American labor is low quality and high cost. China is no longer a guarantee of cheap and terrible like it used to be. If america wants to make shit again they need to compete on cost terms and quality terms. Honestly the biggest issue I have seen with US companies trying to manufacture goods is that they tend to only target US customers. Especially at the low end. There must be some quirk with US postage where it is…

> American labor is low quality and high cost.

That is the opposite of my experience with software engineers, and my observation of the work ethic of most Americans in a variety of professions makes me think the opposite is true in pretty much every industry.

I think "American labor is low quality and high cost" is one of those things people think must be true about some other industry besides the ones they've seen, kind of like they think the news is inaccurate when it reports things they know to be false, but accurate when it reports on other subjects.

Re: Only Teslas exempt from new auto tariffs thanks to 85% domestic content rule

#418

Post by vlovich123 »

protocolture wrote: post #332
mmooss wrote: post #319

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Murder is an interesting example, because like corruption, people overlook it when "their side" does it. No they don't. If someone I know committed murder, like almost everyone - organized crime members are very few in the population - I would absolutely not overlook it. What an absurd argument. Warfare is entirely different.

You literally say "No i would never support murder under any conditions" and then you identified the condition, warfare, under which you support it.

Right and

> If someone I know committed murder, like almost everyone - organized crime members are very few in the population - I would absolutely not overlook it. What an absurd argument.

Fails to define murder and focused on organized crime vs what if it was your best friend, wife, close relative etc. it’s easy to claim how you’ll react in an abstract scenario but revealed preferences often show something happening very different in reality than what people claim about theoretical situations publicly. Oh and as if it wouldn’t matter who the victim was. What if it was someone bullying your child viciously for months on end? What if they claim it was an accident and now you have to pick which story sounds more plausible?

And does “not overlook it” mean they cut ties with that person, turn them in, visit vengeance upon them?

Re: Only Teslas exempt from new auto tariffs thanks to 85% domestic content rule

#420

Post by WalterBright »

CoastalCoder wrote: post #311
jongjong wrote: post #307

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Basically every big tech company engages in much worse forms of government manipulation. At least this one aligns with citizen interests. IMO, if gov manipulation benefits citizens; e.g. creates meaningful jobs or opportunities for citizens, then it's not corruption. The difference is night and day. Where was the outrage over massive government contracts handed out to Oracle, Microsoft, etc... under previous administ…

I'd argue that keeping Musk wealthy is contrary to the interests of most Americans.

> I'd argue that keeping Musk wealthy is contrary to the interests of most Americans.

His wealth is what enabled SpaceX to exist.

Musk's Neuralink now has enabled a paralized man who could not communicate to operate a computer with his mind and thereby communicate with the world.

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