Tariffs?

[bpj]

I hope things go well, although I realize that we likely disagree on what "going well" means.

But the bigger thing I want to say is that the things we are talking about -- with regard to manufacturing in the US, and thereby creating jobs, and retaking the lead in technology -- take more than 4 years to address. Tariffs can be put in place immediately, but building US manufacturing capabilities is not going to happen in a year or two or even a presidential term.

I know I can be a polyanna about these things, but we need an agreement broadly among people who will be running our government over the course of several presidential terms. If Trump can start something and the next president keeps it rolling, then we have a chance of making progress. As it is, the "opposition party" resists, making it hard to get things done. Then the new administration, if it comes from the other party, tries to undo what it can of the previous administration. It's completely dysfunctional. Some things take long term planning and commitment.

I think that's exactly why Trump can't wait for everything to be approved by Congress, which probably wouldn't happen anyways.

He needs 3 years of results so the next nominee has a leg to stand on and people can choose Trumps path, or back to letting illegals overrun our country and running the country directly into the ground by picking another lib.

I'm reading about things that sound good to me, like securing the southern border and making it easier for people here illegally to "self deport". But do you have any sense of the "big picture"? With millions of people here illegally, how much of that is being addressed?

Speaking of tariffs, I was expecting this second Trump administration to be more "professional" than the first, with coordination and competence. Instead I see a lot of flailing around (e.g., all the changes on tariff policy) and nice "publicity" deportation moves (like arresting the grad students who demonstrated against Israel).

I don't mean everything. For example, I just read about Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, announcing a big reorganization (including major cuts) of the State Department. That strikes me as pretty well thought out.

Trump has a large number of subversives in his administration again. He couldn't see who the problem was last time and he's doing it all over again.

Half want Trump to bomb Iran. Half don't.

They're working overtime to discredit the don't-bomb-Iran people. Waltz is going after Hegseth. Mark Levin is going after Tulsi Gabbard. And all their kosher minions join in.

Its been an outstanding first 100 days of the Trump administration- if you're an Israeli. He's been focused way more on Israel than America-First so far. Pretty pathetic.

As far as the deportations go, it seems like they're doing exactly what it seemed like they would. See below.

[gil]

Both President Trump and the Secretary of the Treasury seem to be saying that tariffs on Chinese products will be coming down substantially, and soon. Judging by what the stock market has done the last 2 days, this is seen as good for the economy.

[Donn Beach]

Yeah, trump is flinching. The issue I believe is he's up against a totalitarian regime. Trump likes to believe he can run things that way but he can't, and it's really no match for a regime that can.

[Walla Walla Dawg II]

Kevin-Tarrif.jpg (126.8 KiB) Viewed 1866 times

[DanielVogelbach]

All taxation is theft and you can never beat a free market.

That being said the idea that USA and China are truly sovereign from each other is comical.

[gil]

I was thinking again this week about how President Trump, when he was a candidate, said that tariffs would be paid by other countries. In two instances he has demonstrated that he knows (or appears to know) that Americans pay the tariff/tax that he imposes.

First was with Walmart. The company's CEO said that Walmart would have to raise prices because so much of their merchandise comes from China and is subject to (at the moment) a 30% tariff. The President's reaction was that Walmart should "eat" the tariffs. This is an acknowledgment that China is not paying tariffs on products they export. The American importer (Walmart) is, and then that importer has a decision about how much of the tariff/tax to pass on to American customers. (If it's the entire amount, prices go up for Americans. or as President Trump suggested, Walmart could maintain its prices and pay the tariff and lose revenue and profit.)

Second was Apple. President Trump has announced his intention to impose a 25% tariff on iPhones if they are not made in the United States. Again, the President is acknowledging that the tariff is not paid by China, or India, or any other foreign country. It's paid by U.S. companies and consumers.

I felt a bit like a voice in the wilderness when I tried to talk to Trump supporters about this when he was a candidate. I got reactions like "what you are saying is just a theory" and "what do these economists know about tariffs?" and "Trump is a businessman; he knows how it really works."

[Walla Walla Dawg II]

IF you are wanting to talk about lies, we can go a good 550,000 pages on lies from Barry and Biden alone.
Shit, if we throw Schrillery in there, we can go over a million.

Gil, stop being a dog with a bone. If a country wants to trade with us enough, they can pay the tariff's. China isn't paying them, but they are pretty desperate now for trade.

[gil]

IF you are wanting to talk about lies, we can go a good 550,000 pages on lies from Barry and Biden alone.
Shit, if we throw Schrillery in there, we can go over a million.

Gil, stop being a dog with a bone. If a country wants to trade with us enough, they can pay the tariff's. China isn't paying them, but they are pretty desperate now for trade.

I want talk about what is going on right now, current events and issues that affect American prosperity and greatness. I want to get away from the "he lied so it's ok if I lie" suggestion.

No one is paying the taxes (tariffs) the President has imposed other than American businesses and consumers. Do you not agree with that?

[Walla Walla Dawg II]

IF you are wanting to talk about lies, we can go a good 550,000 pages on lies from Barry and Biden alone.
Shit, if we throw Schrillery in there, we can go over a million.

Gil, stop being a dog with a bone. If a country wants to trade with us enough, they can pay the tariff's. China isn't paying them, but they are pretty desperate now for trade.

I want talk about what is going on right now, current events and issues that affect American prosperity and greatness. I want to get away from the "he lied so it's ok if I lie" suggestion.

No one is paying the taxes (tariffs) the President has imposed other than American businesses and consumers. Do you not agree with that?

Sure I agree with that. But I also know that a little pain in the short term is better in the long haul.

A month or so back I saw a study about how the citizens in the middle states (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, etc...) felt about the prices going up. For some reason these back-woods inbreed idiots understand that a little pain right now (higher prices) are tolerable and accepted as long as it's eventually fixed.
[this is how I've felt from the beginning]

But Gil, we all understand that you have never liked a thing about our current President and would rather have Shit-Stain-Harris in the Oval Office. She and her abortions, DEI and other waste of tax payers money (insuring kickbacks for her and the other Dem's and other dirty politicians). A world where your skin and sexual deviance mean more than hard work and earning it.

[Walla Walla Dawg II]

Look at #3
So the foreign government can lower their prices to cover the cost of the tariff. In this case, they are not.

Import tariffs, also known as customs duties, are taxes imposed on goods imported into a country. While the importer is legally responsible for paying these tariffs to the customs authority of the importing country, the economic burden of tariffs can be shared or shifted depending on various factors.
Here's a breakdown of who ultimately bears the cost of import tariffs:

1. The Importer (Legally Responsible):
The importer of record, typically the company or individual bringing the goods into the country, is legally obligated to pay the tariff to the customs authority (e.g., U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the United States).
This payment is usually made at the time of customs clearance, when the goods enter the importing country.

2. Consumers (Often Bear a Significant Portion):
Importers often pass on the cost of tariffs to consumers through higher prices for the imported goods.
This is especially true in competitive markets where businesses operate on tight margins.
Consumers may also experience a reduced range of choices if tariffs make some imported goods too expensive to import.

3. Foreign Exporters (May Absorb Some Costs):
Foreign exporters may choose to lower their prices to offset the impact of tariffs and remain competitive in the importing country's market.
This means they absorb some of the tariff cost by accepting lower profit margins.
Exporters with unique products or strong market positions are more likely to be able to pass the costs onto importers.

4. Domestic Producers (May Benefit):
Tariffs can create a price advantage for domestic producers by making imported goods more expensive.
This can lead to increased sales and potentially higher profits for domestic companies.
However, tariffs can also reduce competition, potentially leading to less innovation and efficiency in the long run.

5. The Government (Collects Revenue):
The government of the importing country benefits from tariffs by collecting revenue, which can be used to fund various programs and services.
Historically, tariffs were a major source of government revenue, but their importance has declined in many developed countries.
Factors Influencing Who Pays:
Contractual Agreements: International trade contracts often specify which party is responsible for paying duties and tariffs.
Market Dynamics: The bargaining power and negotiating leverage of the importer, exporter, and other parties involved can influence how the tariff burden is shared.
Elasticity of Demand: If demand for the imported good is inelastic (consumers are not very sensitive to price changes), importers are more likely to pass on the tariff cost to consumers.
Government Policies: Governments can implement policies, such as subsidies or tax breaks, to mitigate the impact of tariffs on specific industries or consumers.

In Conclusion:
While the importer is legally responsible for paying import tariffs, the actual economic burden is often shared or shifted among consumers, exporters, domestic producers, and the government. The specific outcome depends on a complex interplay of contractual agreements, market dynamics, and government policies.