Free Traders Case For Tariffs

[RocksInMyHead]

Hey look - it's working!

List of countries considering lifting tariffs on the US

"We are going to fight these tariffs with countermeasures," Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday.

www.newsweek.com

Did you actually read the article beyond the headline? All of the conciliatory statements and actions were from before Trump's tariffs were announced. The only ones from after are Canada's promise to respond in kind and Mexico not ruling out retaliatory tariffs. Meanwhile, China announced reciprocal tariffs and the EU is planning targeted retaliatory measures. Doesn't sound like it's working to me.

 

[stevil]

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/05/business/trump-reciprocal-tariffs-real-numbers/index.html

The massive tariffs that President Donald Trump announced for dozens of trading partners Wednesday were pitched as “reciprocal,” simply aiming to match the tariffs other countries charge the United States.

But the methodology behind Trump’s attempt to rebalance trade has nothing to do with the tariff rate that foreign countries impose on the US.

The administration’s calculation divided a country’s trade deficit with the US by its exports into the country times 1/2. That’s it.

Quite simply put, Trump, Nevaro, Bessent, Tucker, Fox News, The Western Journal... are lying to you.
These new taxes have nothing to do with any tariffs countries are putting on the USA.

Don't fall for the lies, don't make yourself stupid!

 

[Vambram]

As exampled:


Of course you do.

Of course, I have also seen that Ford is offering their automobiles now to customers at the same discounted rate which their employees get.

 

[Vambram]

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/05/business/trump-reciprocal-tariffs-real-numbers/index.html

The massive tariffs that President Donald Trump announced for dozens of trading partners Wednesday were pitched as “reciprocal,” simply aiming to match the tariffs other countries charge the United States.

But the methodology behind Trump’s attempt to rebalance trade has nothing to do with the tariff rate that foreign countries impose on the US.

The administration’s calculation divided a country’s trade deficit with the US by its exports into the country times 1/2. That’s it.

Quite simply put, Trump, Nevaro, Bessent, Tucker, Fox News, The Western Journal... are lying to you.
These new taxes have nothing to do with any tariffs countries are putting on the USA.

Don't fall for the lies, don't make yourself stupid!

Hmm... yeah I am not going to trust CNN to actually be telling the truth. CNN is well known for their bias and lies.

 

[Say it aint so]

Of course, I have also seen that Ford is offering their automobiles now to customers at the same discounted rate which their employees get.

Yes, plus the tariff increase costs where does that leave them? Probably about the current price right now.

 

[stevil]

Hmm... yeah I am not going to trust CNN to actually be telling the truth. CNN is well known for their bias and lies.

Sure, but do you believe that these countries are taxing all USA imports at the values in the chart presented by the USA government. Do you think that is true?

 

[Pommer]

I disagree with your assertions and with your conclusions.

I don't have time to do that kind of research.

Neither of these constitute an “argument”.

 

[Pommer]

Of course, I have also seen that Ford is offering their automobiles now to customers at the same discounted rate which their employees get.

Since Wednesday?

 

[Vambram]

Yes, plus the tariff increase costs where does that leave them? Probably about the current price right now.

I was under the impression that Ford is attempting to swallow some, or most, of the extra costs themselves in order to try to sell new vehicles.

 

[Say it aint so]

I was under the impression that Ford is attempting to swallow some, or most, of the extra costs themselves in order to try to sell new vehicles.

Yes they will be swallowing some costs.
If even the current 10% tariff stays in place in light of a potential 25%, it won't make that much of a dent as a discount.
Yet I applaud Ford for giving people relief in what they note is "uncertain times".

 

[FreeinChrist]

Wonderful.

Trading in the Asia markets (Japan, Australia, S. Korea) has nosedived, and America's futures took a hit. There is no sign that Monday in the US will be good in terms of the stock market.

The US is in a bear market.

 

[Belk]

Wonderful.

Trading in the Asia markets (Japan, Australia, S. Korea) has nosedived, and America's futures took a hit. There is no sign that Monday in the US will be good in terms of the stock market.

The US is in a bear market.

WSJ says stocks are set to fall further on Monday.

 

[FreeinChrist]

WSJ says stocks are set to fall further on Monday.

It looks it will be a Black Monday.

 

[stevil]

WSJ says stocks are set to fall further on Monday.

The chances of a recession are going up too.

Amazing how such a cavaliere bunch of cowboys in the White House, rushing through things without much thought is able to destroy a pretty promising and robust economy so quickly.

Noone thought a new government could affect things so quickly, like in less than 3 months, but the shear speed and controversial, never seen before approach this government is doing, and doing it to USA's most trusted allies, it's mind boggling.

 

[Gene2memE]

Fun description - from a stand-up comedian and mathematician - on why the tariff numbers are bunkum and are being sold as 'mathiness' to disguise their nature.

He worked out that the tariffs (using the Trump administration's own numbers) represent a 10.25% increase in the price of all products imported into the US.

 

[eclipsenow]

ICYMI: The Free Trader's Case for Trump's Reciprocal Tariffs

Today is Trump's much-heralded "Liberation Day". He may do more for free trade than all others before him.

open.substack.com

Donald Trump’s announcement of reciprocal tariffs, scheduled to take effect April 2, predictably flummoxed globalists and free traders alike. Yet in fact, both groups should be thrilled. The real question is why they didn’t think of it first.
(And yes, there’s an answer to that.)

So it's that simple. Just don't buy foreign steel or aluminium - or you'll pay a tariff.

Simple right? Big business and car manufacturers will eventually sponsor local steel mills and aluminium. Right? It will not hurt the little guy. Indeed - the working class will rejoice as new steel and aluminium and manufacturing jobs FLOOD America! You're saved!

Except:-
1. CHAOS PREVENTS INVESTMENT: What entrepreneur can set up a new steel or aluminium mill when Trump keeps playing "Art of the deal" with whole nations and whole sectors on every brain-blurt he ever has? Who can do a business case when the very fundamentals of the economics of it change every 5 minutes with this chaotic, impetuous man?

2. AMERICA TOO SMALL: Sure America has 330 million people. But can it mine rare earths and process them, or even steel and aluminium, as cheap as 1.4 billion Chinese manufacturing for the many other billions that buy from them? I'm just not sure America has the economies of scale to do everything itself cheap enough. Which means:-

3. BASICS WILL GO UP - PERMANENTLY: Energy and steel and aluminium are the fundamentals of so many things. Basic canned goods like beer and veggies and baked beans will all go up, because of either tariffs on the imported aluminium or steel - or the more expensive domestic supplies (lacking economies of scale.)

Trade is good. When we all do what we are best at, and share it, we all get richer.

 

[HantsUK]

USA's most trusted allies

I think this is probably down to only one remaining (Putin)?

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.

PS - I wouldn't normally comment in this section, but Trump's actions are directly affecting people around the world.

 

[7thKeeper]

Hey look - it's working!

List of countries considering lifting tariffs on the US

"We are going to fight these tariffs with countermeasures," Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday.

www.newsweek.com

Holy lack of reading comprehension Batman!

 

[stevil]

I think this is probably down to only one remaining (Putin)?

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.

PS - I wouldn't normally comment in this section, but Trump's actions are directly affecting people around the world.

Just to bring up a fact.
China is NZ's biggest trading partner. USA is second.
China buys twice as much of our exports than USA does.

 

[FAITH-IN-HIM]

Hey look - it's working!

List of countries considering lifting tariffs on the US

"We are going to fight these tariffs with countermeasures," Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday.

www.newsweek.com

This is encouraging news. As a Reagan-Bush conservative who supports free trade and globalization, I find this development very appealing. The United States should have unrestricted access to these 50 countries to market American products, just as they should have open access to the American market. If we could establish free trade agreements with regions like the EU, South Korea, and Japan, it will be priceless.

What is truly encouraging is that today's conservatives are finally embracing free trade and globalization.