Trump still hasn't figured out tariffs are a tax on consumers | Trump announces “External Revenue Service”

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What every would-be tariffing country soon realizes is that you can't fight a trade war by yourself for very long. Every other country out there will still be able to buy cheap stuff from other countries, and sell their stuff to those countries for their price. Meanwhile, the tariffing country makes everything more expensive, and destroys its international competitiveness.

Which is why there are no countries who use tariffs in this way. Nobody wants to be the next Argentina. Except Trump.
 
superrific said:
What every would-be tariffing country soon realizes is that you can't fight a trade war by yourself for very long. Every other country out there will still be able to buy cheap stuff from other countries, and sell their stuff to those countries for their price. Meanwhile, the tariffing country makes everything more expensive, and destroys its international competitiveness.

Which is why there are no countries who use tariffs in this way. Nobody wants to be the next Argentina. Except Trump.
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And why no conservative in my lifetime has backed tariffs. They still don’t, but a lot of republicans now do.
 
ChileG said:
And why no conservative in my lifetime has backed tariffs. They still don’t, but a lot of republicans now do.
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Trump's use of tariffs have been beneficial in some regards. The stated use and the actual use haven't aligned and I suspect they won't this time. Where I disagree with him is in his use of tariffs as a threat, and the first line of negotiating at that. I don't think he will use them as he publicly states. Say what you want about him but he did major in economics at Wharton. I'm not claiming that made him an expert, but he does understand the negative effects indiscriminate use entails. When all is said and done, I don't think we will see tariffs used in a shotgun manner other than with china.
 
Callatoroy said:
Trump's use of tariffs have been beneficial in some regards. The stated use and the actual use haven't aligned and I suspect they won't this time. Where I disagree with him is in his use of tariffs as a threat, and the first line of negotiating at that. I don't think he will use them as he publicly states. Say what you want about him but he did major in economics at Wharton. I'm not claiming that made him an expert, but he does understand the negative effects indiscriminate use entails. When all is said and done, I don't think we will see tariffs used in a shotgun manner other than with china.
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I'm suspicious about that degree.. He transferred in only after a family friend pulled some serious strings to get him admitted. He and his attorneys have threatened to sue any private or public school or testing agency that releases any of his grades or scores. Under those circumstances, I see no reason to believe that he earned a degree even if he has one.
 
finesse said:
I'm suspicious about that degree.. He transferred in only after a family friend pulled some serious strings to get him admitted. He and his attorneys have threatened to sue any private or public school or testing agency that releases any of his grades or scores. Under those circumstances, I see no reason to believe that he earned a degree even if he has one.
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Maybe, but it is a concept that a high school student can grasp. I see no reason to treat this any differently than mexico paying for the wall, or canada becoming the 51st state, or he will end the russia war before he takes office. He will be surrounded by intelligent people who can grasp the economic concepts. I will become a hell of a lot more concerned if the actions start to mirror the bluster.
 
Callatoroy said:
Trump's use of tariffs have been beneficial in some regards. The stated use and the actual use haven't aligned and I suspect they won't this time. Where I disagree with him is in his use of tariffs as a threat, and the first line of negotiating at that. I don't think he will use them as he publicly states. Say what you want about him but he did major in economics at Wharton. I'm not claiming that made him an expert, but he does understand the negative effects indiscriminate use entails. When all is said and done, I don't think we will see tariffs used in a shotgun manner other than with china.
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As we discussed in the other thread (superrific also made a good point about the interest on the national debt rising), the mere threat of tariffs are already causing real damage to the American people and businesses. And that will continue for at least the next 18 months and probably more.
If and when we see positive effects of all this tariff talk, we can give him the appropriate kudos at that time. But right now his handling of the economy in terms of real dollars and cents is decidedly in the red.
 
Callatoroy said:
Maybe, but it is a concept that a high school student can grasp. I see no reason to treat this any differently than mexico paying for the wall, or canada becoming the 51st state, or he will end the russia war before he takes office. He will be surrounded by intelligent people who can grasp the economic concepts. I will become a hell of a lot more concerned if the actions start to mirror the bluster.
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When will we see some of these intelligent people?
 
Callatoroy said:
he does understand the negative effects indiscriminate use entails.
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What is the basis for this assumption? Even if he did understand them, that understanding would have to surmount the obstacle of his narcissism. But it's clear that he doesn't, because of the way he has always talked about the trade deficit. The trade deficit is DEFINITELY something he doesn't understand.
 
superrific said:
What is the basis for this assumption? Even if he did understand them, that understanding would have to surmount the obstacle of his narcissism. But it's clear that he doesn't, because of the way he has always talked about the trade deficit. The trade deficit is DEFINITELY something he doesn't understand.
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Trade deficits. Whether a strong dollar is good or bad. Who pays for tariffs. Are tariffs (generally speaking) good or bad for the economy.
He doesn’t seem to understand that for the health of the economy we need more immigrants, not fewer.
I’m sure there is a bunch of other crap I’ve forgotten about.
 
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