Free Traders Case For Tariffs

[eclipsenow]

The USA has just unilaterally broken every trading agreement with every country. No one will now trust or respect America. As America is the largest nation economically (will soon be overtaken by China) all other countries have to trade with her.

I totally agree. We are all wondering what China might do about Taiwan (where the best computer chips come from.)

Trump should have focussed on friend shoring so the west could wean off China - and gradually encouraged a trade zone that slowly increased universal tariffs on China.

Instead he threatened NATO, made it look weak, and punished his friends. Abraham Lincoln could walk into America tomorrow and we wouldn't trust that JF Vance wouldn't get elected and repeat this whole disaster. The rest of the world was stunned when Trump was elected the first time. The second time has moved us beyond horror to disgust - at least according to David Brooks at the NYT

 

[FAITH-IN-HIM]

Read the fine print. Israel isn't much of a trading partner while Vietnam is providing relief on products they really don't import.

This is how it all will go down; Trump administration will negotiate with approximately 100 to 150 smaller countries, such as Israel or Vietnam. By the end of this week or next week, President Trump will withdraw tariffs from these nations, which will result in few hundred point rise in the stock market, after which the Trump administration will declare victory , his supporter will claim "promise made, promise kept, and claim no other president ever looked after America like President Trump.

Meanwhile China, the EU ( and UK), and Canada will not negotiate this time. They intend to retaliate. While they may not be coordinating, they are following Canada's foreign secretary's advice that President Trump only respects strength.

Although China, Canada, and the European Union together import 53% of US products, supporters of President Trump will disregard these figures. They are likely to continue claiming victory and repeat only President Trump care about America and no one else. We have seen this dance before. And if you even say anything they will brand you as “ Trump hater , anti-American liberal lefty who wants to destroy America”.

 

[wing2000]

This is how it all will go down; Trump administration will negotiate with approximately 100 to 150 smaller countries, such as Israel or Vietnam. By the end of this week or next week, President Trump will withdraw tariffs from these nations, which will result in few hundred point rise in the stock market, after which the Trump administration will declare victory , his supporter will claim "promise made, promise kept, and claim no other president ever looked after America like President Trump.

Meanwhile China, the EU ( and UK), and Canada will not negotiate this time. They intend to retaliate. While they may not be coordinating, they are following Canada's foreign secretary's advice that President Trump only respects strength.

Although China, Canada, and the European Union together import 53% of US products, supporters of President Trump will disregard these figures. They are likely to continue claiming victory and repeat only President Trump care about America and no one else. We have seen this dance before. And if you even say anything they will brand you as “ Trump hater , anti-American liberal lefty who wants to destroy America”.

I think you are correct *if* his past sensitivity to the markets is any indicator. Trump will try to avoid being the president who single-handily sent the markets into bear terroritory.

But even if he does back down, real economic damage has already been done to the U.S.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Meanwhile China, the EU ( and UK), and Canada will not negotiate this time.

For Canada at least, I think the ill-will this has created among Canadian citizens will be long-lasting. All those US vacations and plane flights are not going to suddenly come back. American liquor and other products? We'll just see what the trade imbalance looks like. If that was the goal, since the US was 'subsidizing' Canada, this solution is not likely to fix it.

 

[loveofourlord]

For Canada at least, I think the ill-will this has created among Canadian citizens will be long-lasting. All those US vacations and plane flights are not going to suddenly come back. American liquor and other products? We'll just see what the trade imbalance looks like. If that was the goal, since the US was 'subsidizing' Canada, this solution is not likely to fix it.

yeah, even if canadian tariffs on both sides are gone tomorrow, thatsw not going to help refusing to buy or travel to America.

 

[loveofourlord]

plus since this isn't really about tariffs or trade deficits, thats not getting fixed any time soon.

 

[essentialsaltes]

MSN

First victim of Trump's Trade War: Michigan's Economy

 

[essentialsaltes]

Your point? Vietnam reduced their tariffs ahead of Trump's proclaimed "Liberation Day" and he still punished the country.

Vietnam's Tariffs Offer Rejected by Trump Adviser—'Not a Negotiation'​

However, U.S. senior trade counselor Peter Navarro rejected this possibility later that day, telling FoxNews: "This is not a negotiation, this is a national emergency based on a trade deficit that's gotten out of control because of cheating."

Don't you get it? It's ninth dimensional chess. We don't want lower tariffs. We will even the trade imbalance and solve the deficit problem with our tariffs.

Commerce Secretary says tariffs are here to stay and will "reset the power of the United States of America"​

 

[Pommer]

Vietnam's Tariffs Offer Rejected by Trump Adviser—'Not a Negotiation'​

However, U.S. senior trade counselor Peter Navarro rejected this possibility later that day, telling FoxNews: "This is not a negotiation, this is a national emergency based on a trade deficit that's gotten out of control because of cheating."

Don't you get it? It's ninth dimensional chess. We don't want lower tariffs. We will even the trade imbalance and solve the deficit problem with our tariffs.

Commerce Secretary says tariffs are here to stay and will "reset the power of the United States of America"​

Tariffs will solve all of our ills!

One thing I do not understand is how are nations that have way lower GDPs going to be able to buy more of our products, to eliminate these trade surpluses that they currently “enjoy”?

 

[essentialsaltes]

Nintendo Halts Switch 2 Pre-Orders Over Trump's Tariffs​

Switch 2 pre-orders were supposed to begin on April 9. No longer.

The launch date of June 5, 2025 is unchanged.

 

[essentialsaltes]

For Canada at least, I think the ill-will this has created among Canadian citizens will be long-lasting. All those US vacations and plane flights are not going to suddenly come back. American liquor and other products? We'll just see what the trade imbalance looks like. If that was the goal, since the US was 'subsidizing' Canada, this solution is not likely to fix it.

Trump threats do the unthinkable: transform Canadians into flag-waving, U.S.-booing patriots​

Instead of cowing Canadians, Trump’s threats to annex their country have unleashed a wave of national fervor unmatched in living memory. Canadians are refusing to buy American products, canceling travel plans south of the border, even booing the U.S. anthem before professional hockey games.

“I’ve never seen this level of patriotism. Everybody is pro-Canada and so afraid of losing their country,” [American ex-pat] Burns said. “It’s a universal voice, no matter where you go.”

Burns recalled watching the recent Four Nations Face-Off hockey tournament, where the Canadian and American teams went head to head. After fans in Montreal booed the U.S. anthem before the first game, three fights broke out on the ice in the first nine seconds.

“I felt like we were gladiators,” the otherwise soft-spoken, gray-haired retiree said with a laugh. “We’ll just hash it out on the rink.”

Perhaps the most obvious impact has been the sudden revival of Canada’s previously moribund Liberal Party. [Trudeau stepped down.] The Conservatives, whose leader had been branded the “maple MAGA,” seemed destined for a landslide victory.

But then Trump started with the 51st state threats and, before the Canadian conservatives knew what had hit them, “maple MAGA” became the most radioactive label in the land. Today, the Liberals and Trudeau’s successor have surged 25 points in the polls and appear headed for a shocking come-from-behind victory later this month.

 

[wing2000]

+ Trump managed to sink the conservative party's chances in the next Canadian election.

 

[Belk]

+ Trump managed to sink the conservative party's chances in the next Canadian election.

Well... silver lining

 

[essentialsaltes]

And by Obama's term, we'd gotten Chinese tariffs on US goods down to single digits without causing any trade wars.

Then his successor took over and raised tariffs on China and China raised tariffs on the US. Who'd be foolish enough to try that again?

View attachment 363105

The old double staircase is back!

 

[FreeinChrist]

MSN

First victim of Trump's Trade War: Michigan's Economy

I was reading about that today. I have lots of family in MIchigan. I wonder what some of them think now.

 

[Vambram]

The tariff tit-for-tat between the U.S. and China escalated again Wednesday, with President Donald Trump saying that he is immediately raising the tariffs on Chinese goods to 125% over Beijing’s "lack of respect" toward America, while pausing and lowering reciprocal tariffs on other countries.

"At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the U.S.A., and other Countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable," Trump posted on his Truth Social media platform.

Trump wrote that more than 75 other countries have called U.S. representatives to "negotiate a solution" to the subjects relative to trade, trade barriers, tariffs, currency manipulation, and non-monetary tariffs. He added that these countries, "at my strong suggestion," have not retaliated in any way against America.

Trump wrote that his reciprocal tariffs on other countries would be paused for 90 days, during which the tariff rate would be 10%.

Trump's move comes just hours after China announced it was increasing its reciprocal tariff on U.S. goods from 34% to 84%.

China's escalation came after Trump's tariff went into effect shortly after midnight Wednesday, which imposed a 104% tariff on Chinese goods to the U.S.

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick posted on X that the world – except China – is ready to work with Trump on trade.

Trump says he's raising China tariffs further, pausing reciprocal tariffs for others

President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he is immediately raising the tariffs on Chinese goods to 125% over Beijing’s “lack of respect" toward America.

www.foxbusiness.com

 

[FreeinChrist]

Yeah, countries like Zimbabwe and Madagascar and other countries will desperately try to get relief from tariffs, and it looks like Trump backed down on many of tariffs as many of his wealthy backers were having a fit, and his approval ratings dropped.

Approximately $8 trillion was lost in the last few days. That is not so good.

 

[BPPLEE]

https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-trump-tariffs-trade-war-04-09-25

Nasdaq Soars to Best Day Since 2001 After Trump Pauses Some Tariffs​

U.S. hits China with additional levies, puts others on hold as trade war shifts​

 

[Belk]

https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-trump-tariffs-trade-war-04-09-25

Nasdaq Soars to Best Day Since 2001 After Trump Pauses Some Tariffs​

U.S. hits China with additional levies, puts others on hold as trade war shifts​

A few more days like this and I might make back all the money I lost.

 

[iluvatar5150]

A few more days like this and I might make back all the money I lost.

NASDAQ is almost back to where it was a week ago. Still got a ways to go before it gets back to where it was when he took office.