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US Administration announces 34% tariffs on China, 20% on EU

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Re: US Administration announces 34% tariffs on China, 20% on EU

#751

Current EU tariffs on US goods... Product Category Tariff Rate ----------------------------- -------------- Dairy Products (e.g., cheese, butter) Up to 50% Processed Foods (e.g., chocolate, confectionery) 30-40% Alcoholic Beverages (e.g., whiskey, bourbon) 25% Steel and Aluminum Products 25% Automobiles 10% Industrial Goods 5-10%

Interesting that people are downvoting heavily those information. If reality does not match our view of the World, well, let's ignore reality. The truth is that EU kept higher tariffs on US goods than the other way, Trump is changing that and there is an outcry, because it was Trump who did that. If that was Kamala, nobody would even notice.

Re: US Administration announces 34% tariffs on China, 20% on EU

#752

Aside from everything else one thing what strikes me as particularly insane is how it’s not even defensible as a protective measure. My favorite everyday olive oil comes from Tunisia. They now have a 38% tariff on them. There are no out of work olive farmers in the US. The orange man wanted tariffs, the orange man is going to get tariffs. Now we have to hope the American people aren’t so dumb as to still be convinced…

You are right about olive oil. So why did he do it? The trade imbalance with Tunisia. Why is there are trade imbalance with Tunisia? US consumers have money to buy products from Tunisia, Tunisian consumers don't have the ability to afford products from the US. Why can't Tunisian's afford US products? This is the central question for every country in the trade war and it has myriad factors, but two of the biggest are: A higher cost US dollar, suppression of wages in countries like Tunisia (and Germany, and China, etc).

Re: US Administration announces 34% tariffs on China, 20% on EU

#753
post #750

It's true that free trade is hugely beneficial to the US economy as a whole, particularly with the USD being the reserve currency. The flow of goods is balanced by a flow of US dollars to other countries, which are ultimately cycled back into the US financial system - enabling budget deficits and an abundance of capital to invest in high growth industries. The flip side of this is that it also drives inequality - the…

You're arguing from a steady state. In point of fact the pain of the at-this-point-seemingly-inevitable recession is absolutely going to be concentrated on the working class. Those of us with savings and work flexibility will do just fine.

Even someone making a first principles argument for a revision of US trade policy should agree that this is insane.

Re: US Administration announces 34% tariffs on China, 20% on EU

#754

I don't see anyone mentioning that the United States needs to manage its massive national debt, currently in the trillions, by issuing Treasury securities. These securities mature at varying intervals and require continuous "rolling" or refinancing to pay off old debt with new borrowing. Significant rollovers are expected from April through September 2025, with additional short-term maturities due by June. Higher int…

> What are the flaws in this thinking? -> Treasuries are considered safe during such crisis. Is that truly still the case? Does the world consider the US stable right now? I am astonished at how effectively the administration has blown up every pillar upholding the US economy, short, medium, and long term. The damage done here is incalculable. In all of human history never has so much wealth been destroyed so quickly…

Doesn't anybody remember Liz Truss? She took only 45 days to almost sink the UK.

Re: US Administration announces 34% tariffs on China, 20% on EU

#755
post #750

It's true that free trade is hugely beneficial to the US economy as a whole, particularly with the USD being the reserve currency. The flow of goods is balanced by a flow of US dollars to other countries, which are ultimately cycled back into the US financial system - enabling budget deficits and an abundance of capital to invest in high growth industries. The flip side of this is that it also drives inequality - the…

Yes! "Trade Wars are Class Wars" by Klein & Pettis is the book to read if you want to hear actual economists with actual data talk about this.

Re: US Administration announces 34% tariffs on China, 20% on EU

#756
post #460

From the people in my life who talked about their preference for this administration, the economy was the core reason I heard. Specifically interest rates, but ignoring that that’s the federal reserve and the president has no impact on that. Whatever - all that said, I can’t imagine this leads to an economic boom or anything near it by the midterms. Are the republicans going to lose midterms if the economy is shit? I…

It's fascism, reasoning with people won't work. The economy was the problem because Biden was in power. Now it's fine because trump is "doing what is needed and we all need to pay higher prices".

> “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”

Re: US Administration announces 34% tariffs on China, 20% on EU

#757
Walton family, owners of Walmart, run the company by exploiting the labor force and social safety nets like welfare. Walmart is the largest company with the most employees on some sort of welfare. Tax payers are propping up their stock. This allows them to retain more of the profits versus sharing them and removing their employees from the welfare system. None of their listed actions have to do anything with globalization to retain their wealth.

Taxing the wealth and redistributing helps. Saw this in the 1950-1960s with building of new infrastructure to replace the aging or expand the supply to offset the demand. Using the money to pay for new training so lost jobs can be replaced where jobs are needed helps too. Even the simple act of ending starvation in children increases their intellect for the next generation and helps support the future. This method will never be perfect. These are band-aid solutions that have actual results.

Reality is that the inequality is a social problem masquerading as an economic problem. Society has moved to from respecting empathy and humanity to respecting greed and power. People mind set is anchored to, “That person is quite wealthy so they should be smart and some god must love them for it.” Reality is that person exploited a labor force to maximize their wealth. They are not more intelligent nor does some god like them better. Look at how many rich people fell for Elizabeth Holmes’s blood testing scam while a person that actually studies blood understands parts per millions in looking for test markers. A vial of blood or more is needed versus a drop.

Want to fix the system? Start looking at the wealthy with disgust and damnation. Demonize them for being the driving force in economic inequality. Move back to honoring and respecting empathy and humanity. Real intelligent people have empty. It lets them be placed in the shoes of others when they will never can experience it themselves.

I would also caption the wealth gab in the USA as modern day segregation. The world happiness index shows that equalizing the rich and poor creates a better sociality. Respecting the wealth and demonizing the poor is the complete inverse of a better society and maximizes soar.

PS. Why do people think bulling trade partners will be beneficial? Say you are store owner or product producer and you keep trying to bully me to by your products. I will not and go the competition, even with higher costs or deem the product or service not worth it. I already started boycotting USA bourbon manufacturers with their arrogant and bully statements during the Tariff Wars.

Do good, demonize extreme wealth. Irony is so many GOOD Christians even ignore Jesus’s statement on this matter with pretending Matthew 19:24 doesn’t exist.

Re: US Administration announces 34% tariffs on China, 20% on EU

#758
post #625

Everyone is quick to deride this move as stupid. I don’t disagree that there are downsides to the approach, but there is a set of very real national problems that this might address. For instance, globalization and offshoring of production has made goods cheaper for consumers, but what about the former domestic producers who could not compete, and do not have the skills or capital to find a new job which pays as well…

Progressive taxation, better public services, universal healthcare, free education for all

Doesn't the US already have the most progressive tax system in the world? If you want more public services the tax rate would need to increase at all levels but dramatically so at the middle to low end.

Re: US Administration announces 34% tariffs on China, 20% on EU

#759
post #750

It's true that free trade is hugely beneficial to the US economy as a whole, particularly with the USD being the reserve currency. The flow of goods is balanced by a flow of US dollars to other countries, which are ultimately cycled back into the US financial system - enabling budget deficits and an abundance of capital to invest in high growth industries. The flip side of this is that it also drives inequality - the…

Yes! "Trade Wars are Class Wars" by Klein & Pettis is the book to read if you want to hear actual economists with actual data talk about this.

Stellar book. Can't recommend it enough. Wanted to chime in on how good this book is.

Re: US Administration announces 34% tariffs on China, 20% on EU

#760

This won't bring home manufacturing but let's say that it will... The US doesn't have the people to do the actual manufacturing. I saw a video recently explaining how sectors like the military, construction and the automotive industry each have 100K+ positions that they are unable to fill. A return to manufacturing adds to that shortage. Apparently there's some 7 million young men of working age that are...missing in…

>Apparently there's some 7 million young men of working age that are...missing in action. Self-isolated, gaming, addictions. And you never wondered why that is?

Well, if I had to guess based on my own personal experience, it's easy to simply be... forgotten. Nobody asks you to do anything, and you don't have the will to do anything of your own accord because everything you want feels hopelessly out of reach.
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