The Tariffs are not reciprocal
Everyone knows a sales tax is a buyers tax. Because they pay it every time they buy anything from a store. But when it is a delivery tax somehow escapes them that the same thing happens. .
For some reason they think a foreign country pays the export tax. They don't. They just up the price of goods to match the charge.
The counter argument is if the goods become too expensive that people won't buy them and they will have to buy domestically.
Kind of dumb, if an American car or computer business has to import parts from other countries, and they do, then you're making it more expensive for them too.
If domestic producers know foreign competition is burdened by tariffs it's not like they will keep their own prices low. Less competition always means higher prices. It is not as bad as it seems because Trump made some exceptions.
The President signed an Executive Order eliminating the duty-free de minimis treatment for low-value ($800 or less) goods from China and Hong Kong starting May 2, 2025. However come May 1st I will have to increases prices by 10% on any goods made outside the US. Like I said it's the consumer that ends up paying. So I would order now. https:/antineocon.com like before April 9
Trump put out a chart saying how much other countries tariffed the US. But is was complete BS. What they did was the looks at trade deficits, that is how much they import from the US vs how much they export. They divided the surplus on exports by imports and a got a number then they divided that by two and acted like this was a reciprocal tariff.
For example, America’s trade deficit with China in 2024 was $295.4 billion, and the United States imported $439.9 billion worth of Chinese goods. That means China’s trade surplus with the United States was 67% of the value of its exports — a value the Trump administration labeled as “tariff charged to USA.
China does not have a 67% tariff on US goods. They simply sell more goods than they buy.
You know what though. If they get rid of the income tax then I dont care. Bring on protectionism and tariffs.
I just love how all the Lincoln loving Yankees are suddenly admitting that tariffs are a tax on consumers. Now that Trump is doing it, someone they hate, suddenly they can admit what they are.
If you want to increase manufacturing then you need deregulation. Lower the workers' cost of living by breaking up utility monopolies, lower rent by having actual borders. Lower gas by lifting sanctions on all of Israel's enemies. Save trillions by not fighting Israel's wars. That is the solution and that’s not happening. They are already bombing Yemen and threatening Iran.