greggerypeccary wrote on Dec 5^th, 2024 at 11:20am:


Biden is an expert when it comes to tariffs.

Trump, on the other hand, doesn't even know how they work and thus has no idea how to apply them.

"Today’s actions to counter China’s unfair trade practices are carefully targeted at strategic sectors—the same sectors where the United States is making historic investments under President Biden to create and sustain good-paying jobs—unlike recent proposals by Congressional Republicans that would threaten jobs and raise costs across the board. The previous administration’s trade deal with China failed to increase American exports or boost American manufacturing as it had promised. Under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, nearly 800,000 manufacturing jobs have been created and new factory construction has doubled after both fell under the previous administration, and the trade deficit with China is the lowest in a decade—lower than any year under the last administration."

Leroy wrote on Dec 5^th, 2024 at 12:02pm:


... that Biden is an expert when it comes to tariffs and Trump doesn't even know how they work and thus has no idea how to apply them?

Yes, I do know that.

Leroy wrote on Dec 4^th, 2024 at 7:00pm:



Rest assured, I definitely do not take you seriously.

Leroy wrote on Dec 5^th, 2024 at 11:32am:


No, 45's tariffs, as currently understood, are profoundly misguided. They fail to target industries where the United States possesses a domestic sector under siege by cheap imports, industries ostensibly in need of protection. The rationale behind tariffs is to render imports more expensive, thereby incentivising consumers to purchase locally produced goods. This, in turn, supports domestic industries, safeguards jobs, and fosters economic growth.

An alternative approach would be to subsidise those industries, providing them with the breathing room to enhance efficiency and achieve competitiveness without ongoing government intervention. However, this strategy requires public funding, and for 45's faction, anything resembling such "socialist" measures, unless it pertains to defence contractors, is kryptonite.

Instead, 45’s tariffs are being indiscriminately applied to all imports, including sectors where no domestic alternative exists. The result? Higher prices for consumers with no corresponding benefit to local industries, many of which are either non-existent or uncompetitive.

Stupid.

There are pathways to implement tariffs intelligently, without wreaking havoc on the economy. First, target tariffs towards industries with established domestic production, offering consumers viable local options. Second, utilise revenue from these tariffs to subsidise and expand emerging sectors, enabling them to compete with imports. Once these industries can meet a substantial share of domestic demand, extend tariffs to their competitors, allowing consumers the choice of paying the tariff or buying locally.

Of course, even this cursory strategy ignores the complexity of supply-chain dynamics and the compounding impact of tariffs on imported components. But such nuance is irrelevant in 45’s plan, which is as economically illiterate as his promise to build a border wall and make Mexico pay for it.

He claims these blanket tariffs will apply to Canada, Mexico, and China, with China bearing even steeper levies that, according to him, “they” will pay, not the American consumer.



The revenues, he asserts, will fund further tax cuts, predictably skewed to benefit the wealthiest. In reality, ordinary Americans, including those who voted for him, will shoulder the financial burden amid a cost-of-living crisis, without access to affordable domestic alternatives to mitigate the impact of these tariffs.

When prices soar, people will inevitably turn against 45. If he’s shrewd, he’ll exploit the backlash to argue for drastic deregulation, ostensibly to “rebuild” domestic industries. In practice, this would entail gutting workers’ rights, slashing wages, and dismantling environmental protections, all of which elevate the costs of local manufacturing.

At best, 45’s tariff scheme would yield a more polluted America with stagnant wages and higher consumer prices. At worst, it risks spiralling inflation, elevated interest rates, and a catastrophic recession that could leave the nation’s economy in tatters.

OR, you could just say Trump will put a tax on China, vote for him and walk willingly off a cliff.

Tragically, we’ve already seen how that choice played out. More alarming still are his prospective cabinet picks, handpicked sycophants and yes-men poised to ensure there are no guardrails this time, only blind obedience to his most destructive impulses.

That is why Trump's tariffs are stupid, not simply because it's Trump doing it.

SadKangaroo wrote on Dec 5^th, 2024 at 1:38pm:


Trump is a negotiator. America have nothing to negotiate with and have always been duped into bad deals because they have no leverage.

Trumps tariffs are there to give him some leverage when he negotiates.

China's strong economy is because they leverage everything, you should know that from watching them dominate Australia.

The fat is gone from the american economy and smarter trading needs to be done if they want to stay relevant.

Canada and Mexico have feasted on weak deals from America and Trump is going to turn that around.

Leroy wrote on Dec 5^th, 2024 at 2:02pm:


The US are the worlds strongest nation and strongest economy, They have strong professional negotiators and are working from a position of power in every negotiation.

The Australia trade agreement for instance is that heavily loaded to the US benefit that most people who examined it suggested Australia to not sign up. There is little for Australia in the trade agreement.

Look at sugar where Australia has a efficiency advantage and could sell under the price of US sugar farmers same with beef, Australia are excluded from both industries and almost anything else where Aus has a trading advantage, not so in the other direction. Most other countries have similar positions. The US are the clear winner in almost all of their trade agreements. The US only allow competition in the industries where they get to win.

Leroy wrote on Dec 5^th, 2024 at 6:37pm:



... as a rapist and convicted criminal as well as the worst businessman & politician America has ever seen.

11. Immediately following this rape, Defendant Trump threatened Plaintiff that, were
she ever to reveal any of the details of the sexual and physical abuse of her by Defendant Trump,
Plaintiff and her family would be physically harmed if not killed. Exhs. A and B.