Free Traders Case For Tariffs

[Always in His Presence]

There’s lots of reasons why tariffs on our products are mostly fine for other countries while Trump’s plan to raise prices on everything for every American is bad for our economy and not for everyone else.

Please share one or two. Be sure to provide links. Thank you

 

[GoldenBoy89]

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.

Tell me why that’s a bad thing for me personally.

Why should I care what people pay for American products in their own countries?

 

[GoldenBoy89]

Please share one or two. Be sure to provide links. Thank you

I just did.

 

[mark46]

Here is why protectionism (tariffs in our case) are bad. "Many estimates have been made of the cost of "saving jobs" by protectionism. While the estimates differ widely across industries, they are almost always much larger than the wages of the protected workers. For example, one study estimated that in 1984 U.S. consumers paid $42,000 annually for each textile job that was preserved by import quotas, a sum that greatly exceeded the average earnings of a textile worker. That same study estimated that restricting foreign imports cost $105,000 annually for each automobile worker's job that was saved, $420,000 for each job in TV manufacturing, and $750,000 for every job saved in the steel industry. Yes, $750,000 a year! Free Trade, by Alan S. Blinder: The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics | Library of Economics and Liberty

To answer your question why do other nations have tariffs on the USA is that many do not? Many goods are excluded from any tariffs, others have very low tariffs. Smaller and poorer nations are a bit more protective. Others just want to protect certain industries. Agriculture is the one area where no country really seeks to open their farmer/ranchers to worldwide competition. Many (even the USA) cheat with various workarounds. Here are average weighted tariffs of all goods. Notice Vietnam is 1.2% lower than the USA. Tariff Rates by Country 2025
Vietnam just happens to have been chosen as an alternative to China. So as far the the USA is concerned lots of stuff comes from there. Why are they being blamed for doing a great job producing products? If anything Vietnam did us a huge favor by providing an alternative to China. Nike's problem was they were too snug. They should have secondary sources of manufacturing that can ramp up. Rather than move to the USA, Nike should start producing in one of the South American 10% tariff nations. That would be cheaper than moving a factor to the USA.

I think that there is a lot of support for tariffs on aluminum and steel. This is NOT like textiles. The government sees a national security interest in knowing that they have these industries. When the market is soft, other countries subsidize their companies and sell aluminum and steel cheaply in the US.

Autos are an interesting case. Across the board tariffs on autos and auto parts make little sense. HOWEVER, it does make sense to have high tariffs on countries that won't allow US companies to have true access to their markets. Is it fair that we have so little access to the auto markets of China, Japan, India, and South Korea? Perhaps, we should simply match their tariffs, that is, have reciprocal tariffs.

 

[mark46]

Tell me why that’s a bad thing for me personally.

Why should I care what people pay for American products in their own countries?

hmm

Say a country puts 100% tax on US autos or in other ways excludes makes our autos very, very expensive.

Should we not care that we might have hundreds of thousands of more auto jobs if we had better access to their markets, or we could have those same jobs if we had the same structures and excluded them from our markets.

Why is it unreasonable to say to South Korea and Japan that they have a 100% tax on their cars being sold here until we have access to their markets?

 

[Vambram]

Perhaps, but the EU has little choice but to try to expand their customer base.

Adding 20% tariffs to their cost structure would put lots of companies out of business. Their products would be much less competitive or their profit margins would be considerably less. Of course, their governments could simply repay the companies for any tariffs paid, but even that burden is greatly reduced if the companies find new markets. And countries could provide help for a few years while the affected companies develop new markets.

And this situation is even more severe for countries who have much higher tariffs. South Korea, Japan and Vietnam are also meeting with China to increase their economic ties.
=========
Trump's policy of America Alone will come closer and closer in the rest of his term of office.

The nations in the EU would be better off in cutting the tariffs and the value added taxes which they have had for a long time on American products. In return, the USA would cut and reduce tariffs on European products.

 

[loveofourlord]

I think that there is a lot of support for tariffs on aluminum and steel. This is NOT like textiles. The government sees a national security interest in knowing that they have these industries. When the market is soft, other countries subsidize their companies and sell aluminum and steel cheaply in the US.

Autos are an interesting case. Across the board tariffs on autos and auto parts make little sense. HOWEVER, it does make sense to have high tariffs on countries that won't allow US companies to have true access to their markets. Is it fair that we have so little access to the auto markets of China, Japan, India, and South Korea? Perhaps, we should simply match their tariffs, that is, have reciprocal tariffs.

except where is the US going to magickally get their steel and aluminum? It take years go get mines and plants back to full power.

 

[Vambram]

Tell me why that’s a bad thing for me personally.

Why should I care what people pay for American products in their own countries?

Please include my entire quote because it gives a basic and decent answer to why we are doing tariffs.

 

[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.

 

[mark46]

The nations in the EU would be better off in cutting the tariffs and the value added taxes which they have had for a long time on American products. In return, the USA would cut and reduce tariffs on European products.

Israel offered to drop ALL tariffs on US goods. Trump's response was a 17% tariff.

This is NOT about European tariffs. The reciprical tariffs are about trade deficits.

 

[Vambram]

Israel offered to drop ALL tariffs on US goods. Trump's response was a 17% tariff.

This is NOT about European tariffs. The reciprical tariffs are about trade deficits.

I have no doubt that President Trump, the USA, and Israel will make a deal that benefits both Israel and the USA.

 

[mark46]

I have no doubt that President Trump, the USA, and Israel will make a deal that benefits both Israel and the USA.

I agree

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

Israel offered to drop ALL tariffs on US goods. Trump's response was a 17% tariff.

This is NOT about European tariffs. The reciprical tariffs are about trade deficits.

Except Trump put tariffs on countries which have a trade deficit with the US, like Australia, so that doesn't hold either.

Then again, he put a 10% tariff on an island full of penguins, so I'm guess not a lot of intelligence was involved.

 

[Gene2memE]

And that is EXACTLY what the President is doing. It is what he has been saying repeatedly

It is not what he is doing. What he's doing is imbecilic.

Structural imbalance and trade deficits aren't the same thing. Blanket tariffs aren't targeted, and they don't do a single thing to redress structural factors.

 

[FAITH-IN-HIM]

Here is what you missed or ignored. India charges higher tariffs on American goods than America charges for Indian goods.

Having equal tariffs levels the playing field. India with its population of 1.46 billion people who make 5,350.00. If tariffs are actually taxes, then India lowering their tariffs would help their population. Why don’t you support that?

You have some facts wrong or you're using statements from politicians like President Trump without verifying them.

India does not specifically target America with tariffs on American products. India applies import taxes to products imported from all countries.

This is also true for other countries. President Trump repeatedly presents misleading information, which many Americans continue to believe. Countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and other developing nation impose import taxes on all foreign products they purchase. These countries do not specifically target American products to punish the U.S.

President Trump want to balance trade with India, but it is impossible.

.5% Indian makes more then $5000 USD a month. ( this is average in US)
83% Indian male makes less than $115 USD a month.
90% Indian female makes less than $115 USD a month.

Even if India changes its policy to zero tariffs for American goods, those earning less than $115 USD a month, which includes 83% of males and 90% of females, will not be able to afford American products. Many of these individuals lack the required clothing to enter fancy department stores in Bangalore or Mumbai, where such goods are sold.

Zero tariffs will not impact the trade deficit with India, as 0.5% of Indians cannot make difference regardless of the tariff status.

But what will happen if India's current Prime Minister Modi, a Hindu nationalist changes the import policy and establishes free trade with America? He won't last three months in his position. Both his party and the opposition will label him as an American puppet who prioritizes 0.5% of Indians over 83% of Indians.

In three months, India will replace its leadership from a Hindu Nationalist to potentially a more Extreme Hindu nationalist who holds anti-American views. We Americans will face bigger problems than free and fair trade with India.

India, a nuclear power, shares a 2000-mile border with another nuclear power, Pakistan. Pakistan has volatile politics and Islamic fundamentalists. Both sides have been in conflict for the past 50 years. Only thing stopping of nuclear war between the two countries has often been India act as a mature adversary who act like “cooler heads prevail”.

But sure lets start a trade war with India and force them to change their policy which might push them brink of nuclear war.

 

[FAITH-IN-HIM]

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.

This is not true. President Trump repeatedly presents misleading information, which many Americans continue to believe. Most countries impose import taxes on all foreign products they purchase. These countries do not specifically target American products to punish the U.S.

 

[FAITH-IN-HIM]

I am a Reagan , H Bush , W Bush conservative who supports capitalism, free trade, and globalization. Yes, I am the dirty “globalist”.

Interestingly, over the past 15 years, American conservatives have criticized globalism and free trade.

However, that is precisely what President Trump want to achieve with his tariff. President Trump want other countries to reduce their import taxes to allow American products access to their markets, just as foreign products have access to the American market. And his supporters agree with him.

So do I

This defines free trade. This is why conservative American since Regan keep pushing for free trade and globalization.

There are better way to establish free trade with other country than initiating a global tariff war which could negatively impact the world economy.

 

[Always in His Presence]

Tariffs are also used to redress what are seen as structural imbalances in trade.

It is not what he is doing. What he's doing is imbecilic.

Structural imbalance and trade deficits aren't the same thing. Blanket tariffs aren't targeted, and they don't do a single thing to redress structural factors.

It is exactly what he is doing -

Trade ‘Emergency’ Follows Decades of Trump Anger That America Has Been Ripped Off

Economists and legal experts question how the strongest economy in the world can be facing a national emergency over the trade deficit.

www.nytimes.com

Trade ‘Emergency’ Follows Decades of Trump Anger That America Has Been Ripped Off​

Even the New York Times recognizes it:

India does not specifically target America with tariffs on American products. India applies import taxes to products imported from all countries.

A Guide to U.S. Import Taxes: Duties, Tariffs, and Other Fees​

• Import taxes include tariffs (direct taxes on products), customs duties (indirect taxes), and other fees collected by CBP, such as the MPF and HMF.

Definition of tariff:

Dictionary
Definitions from Oxford Languages · Learn more
a tax or duty to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports.

My friend - a tariff is an import tax and an import tax is a tariff - and our President is not speaking of what India is doing with other countries - just how they are interacting with the US.

This isn't 'everyone gets a ribbon'.

 

[Hans Blaster]

Trade ‘Emergency’ Follows Decades of Trump Anger That America Has Been Ripped Off​

Which is a clear demonstration that Trump is an ignorant fool on economics generally and international trade specifically. That you buy less of my stuff than I buy of yours doesn't mean you are ripping me off. What matters is a fair price and product. The same applies with countries.

Is India (the country in the example) selling inferior goods at high prices? Do they make false deals? Those are kinds of "ripping off". Selling more than they buy IS NOT.

 

[FAITH-IN-HIM]

It is exactly what he is doing -

Trade ‘Emergency’ Follows Decades of Trump Anger That America Has Been Ripped Off

Economists and legal experts question how the strongest economy in the world can be facing a national emergency over the trade deficit.

www.nytimes.com

Trade ‘Emergency’ Follows Decades of Trump Anger That America Has Been Ripped Off​

Even the New York Times recognizes it:

A Guide to U.S. Import Taxes: Duties, Tariffs, and Other Fees​

• Import taxes include tariffs (direct taxes on products), customs duties (indirect taxes), and other fees collected by CBP, such as the MPF and HMF.

Definition of tariff:

Dictionary
Definitions from Oxford Languages · Learn more
a tax or duty to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports.

My friend - a tariff is an import tax and an import tax is a tariff - and our President is not speaking of what India is doing with other countries - just how they are interacting with the US.

This isn't 'everyone gets a ribbon'.

I am unsure why you are posting the definition of tariff.

India imposes taxes on all imported products, regardless of their country of origin. Indian policy does not specifically target American products. And President Trump keep repeating misleading statement.