Free Traders Case For Tariffs

[Gene2memE]

your source for this is.....what?

CATO Institute

 

[Hans Blaster]

so how is it OK for foreign governments to impose high tariffs and duties on our products?

you are arguing from a free-trade standpoint when free-trade doesn't even exist

how is it OK for the EU to impose a 10%+ (VAT and duties as well) tariff on our cars, while we impose a 2.5% tariff on theirs?

Before citing specific examples, you need to know if those rates are negotiated in trade deals. (the VAT is irrelevant. It is charged on *ALL* goods purchased in those countries that have it. It does not distinguish between imported and domestic goods.)

I am all for free-trade.

I don't find your claim compelling.

I am not for the US getting shafted while elites here say "oh well, who cares about fly-over country as long as I can buy a BMW and iPhone at a reasonable price"

Again you are making up thoughts for other people. Please stop it. You are arguing with *us* not some coastal elites.

 

[Vambram]

Reagan secured peace through strength, Trump is betting he can achieve prosperity the same way

Trump's "Liberation Day" announcement in the Rose Garden was a declaration that the era of free trade and globalization was giving way to a new era of fair trade.

justthenews.com

 

[Vambram]

HERE WE GO: President Trump Says "Every Country" Has Called the White House in Response to His Tariffs (VIDEO) | The Gateway Pundit | by Cristina Laila

President Trump reveals that his newly imposed reciprocal tariffs have sparked immediate international responses, claiming every country is reaching out to the White House. Unpack the implications of this significant development.

www.thegatewaypundit.com

 

[Vambram]

Billionaire investor warns world leaders to not keep Trump waiting if they want a tariff deal

As reactions to President Donald Trump's tariffs roll out, Bill Ackman warns world leaders against waiting too long to try striking a deal with the U.S.

www.foxbusiness.com

 

[Belk]

We understand them; that's why we call them 'stupid and invalid'.......duh.......

<Looks at blue states vs red states>

Yes. I'm seeing all the evidence of your sides superior take on economics.

 

[Vambram]

What to know about President Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs

President Donald Trump revealed his tariff plans as part of a "Liberation Day" ceremony at the White House. Uncertainty over tariffs has roiled financial markets in recent weeks.

www.foxbusiness.com

 

[RocksInMyHead]

Reagan secured peace through strength, Trump is betting he can achieve prosperity the same way

Trump's "Liberation Day" announcement in the Rose Garden was a declaration that the era of free trade and globalization was giving way to a new era of fair trade.

justthenews.com

HERE WE GO: President Trump Says "Every Country" Has Called the White House in Response to His Tariffs (VIDEO) | The Gateway Pundit | by Cristina Laila

President Trump reveals that his newly imposed reciprocal tariffs have sparked immediate international responses, claiming every country is reaching out to the White House. Unpack the implications of this significant development.

www.thegatewaypundit.com

Billionaire investor warns world leaders to not keep Trump waiting if they want a tariff deal

As reactions to President Donald Trump's tariffs roll out, Bill Ackman warns world leaders against waiting too long to try striking a deal with the U.S.

www.foxbusiness.com

What to know about President Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs

President Donald Trump revealed his tariff plans as part of a "Liberation Day" ceremony at the White House. Uncertainty over tariffs has roiled financial markets in recent weeks.

www.foxbusiness.com

Is there a point you're trying to make here? Or are you just spamming the thread?

 

[Vambram]

Is there a point you're trying to make here? Or are you just spamming the thread?

I wasn't spamming. I was providing credible news sources and opinions that ought to be considered in this discussion. Please read those articles. Thank you.

 

[RocksInMyHead]

I wasn't spamming.

Posting 4 articles in 4 separate posts with no commentary is kinda spamming.

I was providing credible news sources and opinions

Gateway Pundit? Credible? Seriously?

that ought to be considered in this discussion. Please read those articles. Thank you.

They're puff pieces without substance, rehashing claims that have been debunked multiple times in this thread or just patting Trump on the back. What key information did you think we could glean from these articles?

 

[Vambram]

Posting 4 articles in 4 separate posts with no commentary is kinda spamming.

Gateway Pundit? Credible? Seriously?

They're puff pieces without substance, rehashing claims that have been debunked multiple times in this thread or just patting Trump on the back. What key information did you think we could glean from these articles?

The key information found in those articles from foxbusiness.com and justthenews.com and thegatewaypundit.com are that nations all over the world have higher tariffs on the USA than most of the reciprocal tariffs which President Trump is levying. Also, more than a few nations are responding favorably to the tariffs. Also, when tariffs help bring more corporations back into the USA, rather than depend upon inexpensive foreign labor, then that is very good for American workers.

 

[Richard T]

Trump Properties Located Outside of the United States

Though many properties are named after Donald Trump, he is not the owner of such properties so much as the public face of them.

www.worldatlas.com

Trump Properties Located Outside of the United States​

Trump Plaza Tower: Ramat, Israel​

Trump International Hotel & Tower: Vancouver, Canada​

Trump Towers: Istanbul, Turkey​

Trump World: Seoul, Korea​

Trump International Hotel and Tower: Toronto, Canada​

The Palm Trump International Hotel and Tower: Dubai, UAE​

Trump Ocean Club International Hotel and Tower: Panama City, Panama​

Trump Ocean Resort: Baja, Mexico​

Trump at Cap Cana: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic​

Trump Tower Manila: Manila, Philippines​

Trump Tower: Mumbai, India​

Trump Tower: Pune, India​

Yes you are right in the sense that Trump likes money and uses every opportunity he can to make it including overseas properties. Nothing at all wrong with that. However, true globalists are ideologically based. They want to end nation states, they want to eliminate borders and restrictions. It is in this vein that I say Trump is not a true globalist.

 

[Richard T]

It's not surprising from a president who still insists that a trade deficit is a "subsidy". His basic lack of economics may very well send the world's economy into a recession.

The data shown on the "reciprocal tariffs" chart is simply false. For example, Trump claims the EU is assessing 39% tariff on US imports.

"That 39% figure claimed by the U.S. is widely disputed with the World Trade Organization saying the EU’s average tariff rate was 4.9% in 2024."


[Spain's] Prime Minister Sanchez said the 39% figure was “untrue” and added that a return to “19th century protectionism is not an intelligent move,” in comments reported by Reuters Thursday.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/02/trump-tariffs-live-updates.html

Your analysis is good. Going further here is how Trump's tariffs were calculated. I read another article where basically it follows the output of AI output. How were Donald Trump's tariffs calculated?

 

[stevil]

The key information found in those articles from foxbusiness.com and justthenews.com and thegatewaypundit.com are that nations all over the world have higher tariffs on the USA than most of the reciprocal tariffs which President Trump is levying. Also, more than a few nations are responding favorably to the tariffs. Also, when tariffs help bring more corporations back into the USA, rather than depend upon inexpensive foreign labor, then that is very good for American workers.

I'm sorry to say, but you are being lied to by your favourite news sources.

Trump's table accuses NZ of having 20% tariffs on USA products, this is not true, NZ do not have 20% tariffs on any USA products.
We have worked out that your government and your favourite Right wing news people are all lying to you.

They say other countries have tariffs on USA, but actually they are looking at your trade deficits. Trade deficits and tariffs are two completely different things.

 

[stevil]

Yes you are right in the sense that Trump likes money and uses every opportunity he can to make it including overseas properties. Nothing at all wrong with that. However, true globalists are ideologically based. They want to end nation states, they want to eliminate borders and restrictions. It is in this vein that I say Trump is not a true globalist.

No one wants to end nation states. no one wants to remove borders.

Trump is a globalist, he loves doing business in multiple countries, he borrows money from Russia, he has all sorts of overseas business.

 

[Canuckster]

The key information found in those articles from foxbusiness.com and justthenews.com and thegatewaypundit.com are that nations all over the world have higher tariffs on the USA than most of the reciprocal tariffs which President Trump is levying. Also, more than a few nations are responding favorably to the tariffs. Also, when tariffs help bring more corporations back into the USA, rather than depend upon inexpensive foreign labor, then that is very good for American workers.

White House Blasts Media for Fearmongering on Trump's Reciprocal Tariffs

Good breakdown from three White House staff on how using tariffs to once again, since the 50s, force products to be made in America, combined with incentives of low corporate taxes and cutting regulation, will create high quality mfg jobs that pay good salaries to support families and restore communities and bring relatively lower prices because products are made locally in America like they used to be. It's also needed for national security.

 

[SimplyMe]

I thought this was an interesting (if long) comment on Twitter, talking about the 50% tariff that was placed on Lesotho.

https://x.com/RnaudBertrand/status/1907618228614082944

"To illustrate just how nonsensically these tariffs were calculated, take the example of Lesotho, one of the poorest countries in Africa with just $2.4 billion in annual GDP, which is being struck with a 50% tariff rate under the Trump plan, the highest rate among all countries on the list.
"Why? Does Lesotho apply extortionate tariffs on U.S. products and the U.S. is merely being "reciprocal" here? Not at all, despite what Trump is saying, it's NOT the way these tariffs are defined.
"As a matter of fact Lesotho, as a member of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), applies the common external tariff structure established by this regional trade bloc.
"Which means it applies the same tariffs on U.S. products as South Africa does, as well as the 3 other members of the bloc: Namibia, Eswatini and Botswana.
"So since the tariffs charged by these 5 countries on U.S. products are exactly the same, they must all be struck with a 50% tariff rate by the U.S., right? Not at all: South Africa is getting 30%, Namibia 21%, Botswana 37% and Eswatini just 10%, the lowest rate possible among all countries."

 

[Pommer]

Trump is a globalist, he loves doing business in multiple countries, he borrows money from Russia, he has all sorts of overseas business.

Maybe he’s just betraying…turning on… “liberating” his own side from the shackles of what he (apparently) sees as “the world taking advantage of the richest nation in the entire history of the world!” ?
Maybe he’s repented and seen the error of his globalist-ways?

I wish I’m very glad we can’t see each other’s edit history for posts.

 

[Pommer]

I thought this was an interesting (if long) comment on Twitter, talking about the 50% tariff that was placed on Lesotho.

https://x.com/RnaudBertrand/status/1907618228614082944

"To illustrate just how nonsensically these tariffs were calculated, take the example of Lesotho, one of the poorest countries in Africa with just $2.4 billion in annual GDP, which is being struck with a 50% tariff rate under the Trump plan, the highest rate among all countries on the list.
"Why? Does Lesotho apply extortionate tariffs on U.S. products and the U.S. is merely being "reciprocal" here? Not at all, despite what Trump is saying, it's NOT the way these tariffs are defined.
"As a matter of fact Lesotho, as a member of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), applies the common external tariff structure established by this regional trade bloc.
"Which means it applies the same tariffs on U.S. products as South Africa does, as well as the 3 other members of the bloc: Namibia, Eswatini and Botswana.
"So since the tariffs charged by these 5 countries on U.S. products are exactly the same, they must all be struck with a 50% tariff rate by the U.S., right? Not at all: South Africa is getting 30%, Namibia 21%, Botswana 37% and Eswatini just 10%, the lowest rate possible among all countries."

TheSpin®️ I’ve already seen goes like this:
So what? If Lesotho Doesn’t do “enough trade” with us, then why would it matter what the tariffs* we impose upon them are!?”

*American importers pay these

 

[Richard T]

No one wants to end nation states. no one wants to remove borders.

Trump is a globalist, he loves doing business in multiple countries, he borrows money from Russia, he has all sorts of overseas business.

Where have you been? Internationalism began to be pushed even before the league of nations. It solidified with the U.N. and has been on a roll. Here is how they teach kids. "The International Baccalaureate (IB) program's ideology centers on developing inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who contribute to a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect, fostering lifelong learning and global citizenship.
Notice the "global citizenship." That is just one example of the evidence of how the wheels have been churning to globalization.

Here is a great quote from Stiglitz a nobel prize economist who served Clinton. "Trump sees the world in terms of a zero-sum game. In reality, globalisation, if well managed, is a positive-sum force: America gains if its friends and allies - whether Australia, the E.U., or Mexico - are stronger. But Trump's approach threatens to turn it into a negative-sum game: America will lose, too."

https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/globalisation-quotes