Trump's trade agenda on the verge of imploding

[W2L]

No.

You dont seem to have any answers, only criticism.

 

[TLK Valentine]

Almost everything is made in china, how does one avoid buying Chinese made products?

kooky idea here -- by actually making better products here in the states?

 

[USincognito]

You dont seem to have any answers, only criticism.

I answered your original question.

 

[Shiloh Raven]

Almost everything is made in china, how does one avoid buying Chinese made products?

I heard from someone that arguing over politics is a waste of time.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Remember that the good news in all this is that China gets to establish and seek out new sources for goods all over Asia and Europe! Then Americans don't have to worry about trading with China so much.

Right, since the US tore up TPP, maybe China will politely ask if they can get in on that action.

 

[W2L]

kooky idea here -- by actually making better products here in the states?

We cant compete with cheap labor.

 

[W2L]

I heard from someone that arguing over politics is a waste of time.

Your right, its futile to debate this because peoples minds are made up already.

 

[TLK Valentine]

We cant compete with cheap labor.

We could with advances in automation. Paying a few highly trained specialists to maintain the machinery is cheaper than paying a horde of unskilled labor.

 

[Shiloh Raven]

Your right, its futile to debate this because peoples minds are made up already.

It's true that some debates can be futile, but other debates can be very effective. I've been able to change a few minds over the years on certain issues and I've had my mind changed too.

 

[jgarden]

Trump's trade agenda on the verge of imploding

its no secret that whatever chance Trump has of being re-elected in 2020 rests with a strong economy!

Mid-West farmers rely heavily on the Chinese market - how loyal will they remain to a President who has deliberately provoked a crisis that he may not be able to rectify?

 

[W2L]

It's true that some debates can be futile, but other debates can be very effective. I've been able to change a few minds over the years on certain issues and I've had my mind changed too.

I doubt any liberal wants to admit that we need to bring back manufacturing jobs from china.

 

[Stormy]

Goods exports totaled $129.9 billion; goods imports totaled $505.5 billion.

China has so much more to loss in a tariff war. Trump has said that he will use some of the tariff funds to buy from the farmers and give food to countries in need.

We will win

 

[mama2one]

Goods exports totaled $129.9 billion; goods imports totaled $505.5 billion.
China has so much more to loss in a tariff war.

WE have so much more to lose

so, so many companies go to China to have parts and/or finished products produced
now their goods will come with added cost which will be put on consumers

companies are not going to start making more goods in U.S. because cost of healthcare/benefits for employees is too expensive
over the yrs where husband works, they've almost halved amt of employees and increased getting goods from China because the cost of mfr in U.S. too high

get ready to pay more for goods

 

[jgarden]

Goods exports totaled $129.9 billion; goods imports totaled $505.5 billion.

China has so much more to loss in a tariff war. Trump has said that he will use some of the tariff funds to buy from the farmers and give food to countries in need.

We will win

China is not a democracy so its leadership is under no time constraint to make a trade deal before the 2020 Election - if they think they can get a better deal with a different Administration, they can wait Trump out!

Those "tariff funds" that this President has so generously promised to American farmers aren't coming from China, they represent those additional costs that the American consumer will being forced to pay for the same imported products!

 

[jgarden]

I doubt any liberal wants to admit that we need to bring back manufacturing jobs from china.

If it were all that easy, American presidents would have solved it decades ago - the Republican Party is largely being bankrolled by international corporations who may not consider it in their best interests that by paying higher wages to American workers their products become less competitive on the world markets!

Imposing tariffs contradicts the traditional Republican approach to trade - GOP politicians must be "biting their tongues" to remain silent while this President overrides everything that conservatives once stood for!

 

[mark46]

First, I do agree that tariffs are almost always economically harmful, no matter what their political effects.
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But the situation is not as clear as you paint it. If the cost of a parts being imported by GM goes up by $200, ONE option is for GM to simply charge more to the consumer. Just as likely is that GM's profits would go down as GM is forced to absorb the cost, since the amount that the consumer is willing to pay for the product hasn't change. After all, if the consumer was willing to pay $500 more, GM would be charging $500 more and pocketing the additional profits.

A particular product is bought from China because it makes economic sense to do so. Sure, it is possible that with a 20% tax, China's product is the still the best choice. More likely is that it is not.
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WHAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR?
There have been lots of tariffs (taxes) put on Chinese goods by Trump, and retaliatory tariffs put on us by China. The result is that we are buying less from China, and they are buying less from us. The deficit with China is way down, just as Trump wanted. HOWEVER, the total trade deficit is up. Consumers are actually buying MORE imported goods, rather than less, just not from China.

I'm fine with this result. Sure, some of our industries are hurt. There will be a transition as our companies become less dependent on sales to China. Again, this is a good thing, and Trump, like politicians in the past, will subsidize the farmers who are unable to compete on the world market.
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AS AN ASIDE
I certainly believe that Trump needs to reduce or eliminate tariffs on aluminum and steel, or certainly give waivers to China, Mexico and some of the EU countries. We are in an economic war against China, who cheats in their economic dealings. So, we should be in such a "war". There is great support in Congress for our efforts against China. Trump needs to stop fighting with our economy allies.

.

​

I wonder if folks realize that the importer is the one who pays the duty, then passes off the cost to the consumer. So GM orders parts they need from China, then has to pay the duty, and they pass the cost of that duty onto the consumer.

 

[mark46]

Farmers sold less goods to China, and have been greatly harmed. So, Trump subsidized farmers to the tune of $10B and wants $15B for next year. The consumer is paying more for Chinese goods, but the subsidies are not related to those purchases. Consumers are often choosing to buy goods from other countries, benefitting other countries and hurting China. The issue is that companies that EXPORT to China are harmed. They are forced to find other places to sell their goods, by definition at lower profit margins. The bottom line is that Trump wants to raise taxes to subsidize farmers who cannot compete, a time honored political position.

China is not a democracy so its leadership is under no time constraint to make a trade deal before the 2020 Election - if they think they can get a better deal with a different Administration, they can wait Trump out!

Those "tariff funds" that this President has so generously promised to American farmers aren't coming from China, they represent those additional costs that the American consumer will being forced to pay for the same imported products!

 

[mark46]

You do understand that the consumer is NOT forced to purchase goods from China at higher prices. But, yes, products made in China will cost more.

Sure, the consumer would prefer to pay a bit less for Chinese products produced by subsidized Chinese companies with their low priced Chinese labor. Is this a good thing for the US? The consumer may not be willing to pay the high price of similar products produced in the US, but we certainly can choose to buy from countries other than China. And yes, the costs will be a bit more than before, but not 20 or 25% more that we would pay if we bought Chines goods.
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BOTTOM LINE
US trade with China is declining. We are buying less FROM China. We are selling less TO China. Perhaps, this is GOOD thing. Other things being equal, perhaps it IS better if we purchase more good from South Korea and less from China. Perhaps, it is better that we import less.

WE have so much more to lose

so, so many companies go to China to have parts and/or finished products produced
now their goods will come with added cost which will be put on consumers

companies are not going to start making more goods in U.S. because cost of healthcare/benefits for employees is too expensive
over the yrs where husband works, they've almost halved amt of employees and increased getting goods from China because the cost of mfr in U.S. too high

get ready to pay more for goods

 

[mama2one]

You do understand that the consumer is NOT forced to purchase goods from China at higher prices.

of course not, but try to find American made products for everything you purchase

looking around husband's office here:
battery in phone-made in China
small sample purell from local college-made in China
Bose- made in China
Sony camera-made in China
little foam brush-made in China
portable heater-made in China
canon printer-made in Thailand
computer keyboard-made in China
child's easy bake oven sitting in office-food pkts made in US but all other components made in China & packaged in China
acurite humidity/temp-made in China
thinkfun CODE programming game-made in China
swivel chair-made in China
pure bristle paint brush-made in Indonesia
everbilt wire brads-made in Taiwan
pen refill in drawer-made in China
desk & cabinets- made in U.S (by husband)

 

[USincognito]

of course not, but try to find American made products for everything you purchase

looking around husband's office here:
battery in phone-made in China
small sample purell from local college-made in China
Bose- made in China
Sony camera-made in China
little foam painter-made in China
portable heater-made in China
canon printer-made in Thailand
computer keyboard-made in China
child's easy bake oven sitting in office-food pkts made in US but all other components made in China & packaged in China
acurite humidity/temp-made in China
thinkfun CODE programming game-made in China
swivel chair-made in China
pure bristle paint brush-made in indonesia

I just took my blood pressure and checked. My automated sphygmomanometer is made in China. No wonder I get such good readings when eat Chinese food.