We definitely need to make Pooh Bear and the PRC squeal like a pig. The PRC has stolen or extorted American IP, meddled in US governance, used slave labor with impunity, disrespected civil liberties in the name of a distorted Confucian idolatry of authority, practiced genocide, emitted all manner of pollution, and that's before getting into unfair market practices.
I think we thought we would experience Japan Part Deux with Communist China. A defeated enemy became a fierce economic competitor, however they played by most of the aforementioned rules while flouting some of the fair trade practices (e.g., dumping of products and disproportionate tariffs on American goods). But as Japan became more wealthy and wages rose, they eventually ran into a wall and trade growth slowed to Western levels. They became more of a partner and friendly competitor versus a threatening one. We thought the same thing would happen to Tankie China and it would be international business as usual.
Red China doesn't play by any rules but its own, and dares the rest of the world to call it to account. Time to call its bluff.
Isolating Pooh Bear and the Hundred Acre Wood is a great move. But I don't believe for a second that this was Trump's plan all along. We don't need to be effing with our allies like we have been using a specious formula for applying tariffs due to mere who-cares "trade deficits". If we really want to stick it to China, we need to work with developing countries like Vietnam, India, and LATAM as friendly trading partners to provide an alternative.
We can try to bring the manufacturing back to the USA and save on transportation costs, but the jobs won't be coming back due to automation.
For any of you who think Trump is some master negotiator, publicly announcing that the nations wanting to negotiate are "kissing [his] ass" can only making getting people to the table more difficult. That was really dumb.
Come on, Erick. Show some grace. Give Trump a "win" on this phase of his tariff strategy. Regardless of his reason(s) for his tactical moves, he is accomplishing his strategic goal.
In wartime, generals make tactical changes all the time in pursuit of their strategic goals. But they are not politicians, and do not have to try to justify their moves to the public.
Thanks, JD. I thought my reading and listening skills were pretty good, but I'm clearly not as smart as you. So perhaps you'll bear with me.
Has Trump and his minion not said both (a) the tariffs are permanent, and (b) they are negotiable? My understanding of "permanent" is that it means something that won't change. My understanding of "negotiable" means something that can change, depending on the outcome of negotiations.
I mean, I'm pretty stupid, but "permanent" and "negotiable" would not seem to be the same thing: hence my question of what the strategy is . . . today? So help me out, JD.
Yep. Trump has said they are both "permanent" and "negotiable." His critics like to say he lies (but name a politician who doesn't?) Trump likes to be unpredictable. The tariffs would be permanent, if the parties involved do not do a deal with him. He skillfully uses tariffs as a weapon in his negotiations. It appears to be fast and effective. I think we just need to wait and see. (Personally, I wouldn't do it this way, but I'm not a very good negotiator, either. LOL)
What you just said (permanent unless negotiated), Trump has never said. Rather, he (and his advisers) have said one thing today and the other tomorrow.
Now, help me out here. You say he likes to be unpredictable, and I'll give you that. However, saying one thing and then turning around and saying the opposite thing . . . could that not also be described as being inconsistent?
I'm not sure how this is not the art of the deal. Trump pushes where he can and then when circumstances change, he adjusts and claims victory. Again, the administration has repeatedly said that the negotiations are not simply about tariffs, but about a host of issues with each nation. Trump is reforming the global economic market to deal with individual nations not groups of nations. In the new world economy, individual nations will make deals with the US. - not as part of some bloc of nations.
For the restrictors inside shower heads.... When I would purchase a new one, I would simply take it apart, and bore the hole out slightly larger using my cordless drill.
As for dishwashers.... with new models, it's frustrating just how long it takes for a load of dishes to get done. Depending on the model, these days it's anywhere from 2-3 times longer than what it used to be.
I'm glad that Trump is putting an end to the Progressive idea of "Inconvenience (for YOU, not them) will save the planet"... which in itself is a very flawed approach to doing anything.
And I had responded to your Monday comment that if he does reverse himself on tariffs, people will turn their backs on him.
This sort of idiotic behaviour is like a two year old playing with the global economy like it was a bauble. And his courtiers sweeping up behind his detritus.
And your bottom line recap?: ‘So It Happened?’
He’s not to be trusted with the keys to the car, much less the nuclear code.
You Libs with TDS still do understand, and DO underestimate, Trump's negotiating style. He likes to be unpredictable and he plays hardball. And he usually wins, just like he is winning now.
In what way is he winning: by tanking the stock market or by backing down afterward? From what I could see, the only way he is winning is in a Pee Wee Herman "I meant to do that" sort of way.
Already, between 50 – 70 countries have said they want to negotiate. The stock market is an emotionally-driven gauge. The better idea is to wait 6-8 months and see what happens. Trump will Make America Great Again. But you Libs hate it. LOL
You're so afraid to show your identity, that you do not put anything in your "About" section. But you apparently do not even live in America. Big brave "NJH."
A) You know nothing about me or my political leaning. Never assume.
B) Stop already with looking backwards-it’s stale and irrelevant.
C) His campaign promise was to lower costs and end wars. I did not vote for him to take over Greenland or rename a Gulf or isolate the US from allies.
Oh, as for China-if he and his minions were smarter they’d have built trade alliances to cut off Chiba. But no, he’s blown up all trade (and debt) goodwill globally, and this will only hurt his constituency.
Funny as all the arguments against his use of tariffs are based on looking backwards.....
No one is taking over anything, except maybe the Panama Canal which is within our rights.
Well right now, China is singled out. I'll wager within a short time Europe and our other allies will begin to see the forest and things will be righted.
As for “arguments against his use of tariffs all looking backwards”, I coulda sworn it was just a few days ago on Liberation Day—that ain’t terribly long ago-with his cabinet bobble heads adamantly swearing it was not going to change. A clown show.
It's a poor negotiator that makes his plans known. The results are what matters. That's one of the biggest issues most have with him is they don't like HOW he does things, not the results. Move fast. Break things. Keep them guessing.
I have always contended that tariffs are a way to get “behavior modification”. We need to get people off the cheap goods from our adversaries and on to the moderately priced US and friends of the US goods instead. Bring critical infrastructure home or in our sphere of influence ASAP!
Unfortunately, it's not always that easy. I have some items produced in China that would be vert cost prohibitive here. Like 3-4x the cost prohibitive. China needs to be reined in but they are still a valuable alternative to US manufacturing.
Depending on the product and industry, not all goods from China are in a critical supply chain. I have no knowledge of your product. My background ranges from semiconductors to automotive and medical devices. In my 40 years prior to retirement I was involved in multiple plant closings and off-shoring of manufacturing jobs.
Mine aren't complicated but every US CNC company I contacted was outrageous on their pricing. 100% tariffs would destroy my ability to sell the items I do.
Nice to see Trump at least halfway pause his own stupidity. Now if his "smarter angels" can convince him to go the rest of the way and pause all tariffs on our allies maybe we can start getting somewhat back to normal. The tariffs on China alone will cause enough market disruption. There is no sane economic or strategic reason to drag the EU, Canada and Mexico down at the same time.
Why not negotiate their end to their higher tariffs on U.S. goods? The whole idea is to remove their unfair trade practices. Negotiating bilateral agreements will be forthcoming. The end result: more free trade. All good for Main Street.
If this is about promoting more manufacturing in this country, I think you meant "less" free trade. Trade barriers on our part are the only way we are going to be able to overcome the lower wages that companies are able to pay overseas.
During the Reagan administration, Reagan got the Japanese automative makers to a "hard number " auto that they could import. As a result, Japanese automative makers-built production and part plants in the US. I do not think that this tacit could work in this case for China.
VATs are a sales tax applied to all goods sold regardless of where they are produced. Therefore, they create no advantage for domestically produced products over imported products as do tariffs. Didn’t they teach that in AP economics?
Not correct. It only applies to purchases made within the country. Visitors can get a refund of VAT taxes while residents cannot. You can Google it for a full explanation.
I, too, am glad the House rejected the Senate's spendthrift budget plan. However, I don't think the American people put Trump in office to completely REORDER our economy with all this tariff back and forth nonsense. I voted for Trump to fix and repair our economy left in taters from the progressive's financial shipwreck and failure. Hopefully Scott Bessent can persuade the President to roll back some of this tariff nonsense.
What makes you think the EU will "fall in line"? We have treated our allies worse than we have our adversaries and our policies have been erratic. No one is going to follow this man.
You Democrats have absolutely no positive policies. Only "Orange Man Bad." What a platform. Wow!
China is definitely our ENEMY, and they need to be hit HEAVY with tariffs. I'm sure we will hurt a little but in the long run we will WIN!
We definitely need to make Pooh Bear and the PRC squeal like a pig. The PRC has stolen or extorted American IP, meddled in US governance, used slave labor with impunity, disrespected civil liberties in the name of a distorted Confucian idolatry of authority, practiced genocide, emitted all manner of pollution, and that's before getting into unfair market practices.
I think we thought we would experience Japan Part Deux with Communist China. A defeated enemy became a fierce economic competitor, however they played by most of the aforementioned rules while flouting some of the fair trade practices (e.g., dumping of products and disproportionate tariffs on American goods). But as Japan became more wealthy and wages rose, they eventually ran into a wall and trade growth slowed to Western levels. They became more of a partner and friendly competitor versus a threatening one. We thought the same thing would happen to Tankie China and it would be international business as usual.
Red China doesn't play by any rules but its own, and dares the rest of the world to call it to account. Time to call its bluff.
Isolating Pooh Bear and the Hundred Acre Wood is a great move. But I don't believe for a second that this was Trump's plan all along. We don't need to be effing with our allies like we have been using a specious formula for applying tariffs due to mere who-cares "trade deficits". If we really want to stick it to China, we need to work with developing countries like Vietnam, India, and LATAM as friendly trading partners to provide an alternative.
We can try to bring the manufacturing back to the USA and save on transportation costs, but the jobs won't be coming back due to automation.
For any of you who think Trump is some master negotiator, publicly announcing that the nations wanting to negotiate are "kissing [his] ass" can only making getting people to the table more difficult. That was really dumb.
Come on, Erick. Show some grace. Give Trump a "win" on this phase of his tariff strategy. Regardless of his reason(s) for his tactical moves, he is accomplishing his strategic goal.
In wartime, generals make tactical changes all the time in pursuit of their strategic goals. But they are not politicians, and do not have to try to justify their moves to the public.
Exactly what is his strategic goal . . . today?
You need to work on your reading and listening skills. Donald Trump has repeatedly said FOR MONTHS that:
1. He wants to bring more manufacturing jobs back to America, both for economic reasons and national security reasons.
2. He wants better trade deals with our allies and our enemies.
Got that?
Thanks, JD. I thought my reading and listening skills were pretty good, but I'm clearly not as smart as you. So perhaps you'll bear with me.
Has Trump and his minion not said both (a) the tariffs are permanent, and (b) they are negotiable? My understanding of "permanent" is that it means something that won't change. My understanding of "negotiable" means something that can change, depending on the outcome of negotiations.
I mean, I'm pretty stupid, but "permanent" and "negotiable" would not seem to be the same thing: hence my question of what the strategy is . . . today? So help me out, JD.
Which is it?
Yep. Trump has said they are both "permanent" and "negotiable." His critics like to say he lies (but name a politician who doesn't?) Trump likes to be unpredictable. The tariffs would be permanent, if the parties involved do not do a deal with him. He skillfully uses tariffs as a weapon in his negotiations. It appears to be fast and effective. I think we just need to wait and see. (Personally, I wouldn't do it this way, but I'm not a very good negotiator, either. LOL)
Stupid here again.
What you just said (permanent unless negotiated), Trump has never said. Rather, he (and his advisers) have said one thing today and the other tomorrow.
Now, help me out here. You say he likes to be unpredictable, and I'll give you that. However, saying one thing and then turning around and saying the opposite thing . . . could that not also be described as being inconsistent?
Absolutely! Nobody ever accused Donald Trump of being consistent. LOL That is almost the textbook definition of being "unpredictable."
Historians will debate whether vanity or insanity better explains Trump's tariffs
I'm not sure how this is not the art of the deal. Trump pushes where he can and then when circumstances change, he adjusts and claims victory. Again, the administration has repeatedly said that the negotiations are not simply about tariffs, but about a host of issues with each nation. Trump is reforming the global economic market to deal with individual nations not groups of nations. In the new world economy, individual nations will make deals with the US. - not as part of some bloc of nations.
Indeed.
Re: Shower Pressure and Dishwashers.
For the restrictors inside shower heads.... When I would purchase a new one, I would simply take it apart, and bore the hole out slightly larger using my cordless drill.
As for dishwashers.... with new models, it's frustrating just how long it takes for a load of dishes to get done. Depending on the model, these days it's anywhere from 2-3 times longer than what it used to be.
I'm glad that Trump is putting an end to the Progressive idea of "Inconvenience (for YOU, not them) will save the planet"... which in itself is a very flawed approach to doing anything.
ABN, Always be negotiating
agree that Congress needs to pass legislation making the EO on shower heads and etc to make it law, so it cannot be undone by another president
And I had responded to your Monday comment that if he does reverse himself on tariffs, people will turn their backs on him.
This sort of idiotic behaviour is like a two year old playing with the global economy like it was a bauble. And his courtiers sweeping up behind his detritus.
And your bottom line recap?: ‘So It Happened?’
He’s not to be trusted with the keys to the car, much less the nuclear code.
Haha.
I’m all aquiver.
And sorry, I am very much in the US. I swear..
You Libs with TDS still do understand, and DO underestimate, Trump's negotiating style. He likes to be unpredictable and he plays hardball. And he usually wins, just like he is winning now.
In what way is he winning: by tanking the stock market or by backing down afterward? From what I could see, the only way he is winning is in a Pee Wee Herman "I meant to do that" sort of way.
Already, between 50 – 70 countries have said they want to negotiate. The stock market is an emotionally-driven gauge. The better idea is to wait 6-8 months and see what happens. Trump will Make America Great Again. But you Libs hate it. LOL
I guess I erroneously hit a nerve..
And you nicely reflect an egregious inability to:
a) assume you know my politics
b) fall back on old insults which are misguided.
Why do you think that anyone who criticizes him must be a leftie? You live under a rock?
Underestimate his negotiating style?
I think not, but ok, not inclined to woo you away from your belief. Thanks for your opinion.
You're so afraid to show your identity, that you do not put anything in your "About" section. But you apparently do not even live in America. Big brave "NJH."
Rich coming from anyone that supported the last admin. lol.
A) You know nothing about me or my political leaning. Never assume.
B) Stop already with looking backwards-it’s stale and irrelevant.
C) His campaign promise was to lower costs and end wars. I did not vote for him to take over Greenland or rename a Gulf or isolate the US from allies.
Oh, as for China-if he and his minions were smarter they’d have built trade alliances to cut off Chiba. But no, he’s blown up all trade (and debt) goodwill globally, and this will only hurt his constituency.
Back atcha, pal
Hit a nerve, did we? 🤣🤣🤣
Not really, just exchanging points of views-you?
Funny as all the arguments against his use of tariffs are based on looking backwards.....
No one is taking over anything, except maybe the Panama Canal which is within our rights.
Well right now, China is singled out. I'll wager within a short time Europe and our other allies will begin to see the forest and things will be righted.
How much you wanna wager?
As for “arguments against his use of tariffs all looking backwards”, I coulda sworn it was just a few days ago on Liberation Day—that ain’t terribly long ago-with his cabinet bobble heads adamantly swearing it was not going to change. A clown show.
Ha hah.
It's a poor negotiator that makes his plans known. The results are what matters. That's one of the biggest issues most have with him is they don't like HOW he does things, not the results. Move fast. Break things. Keep them guessing.
I think your perspective is Musk-like, which you’re certainly entitled to.
But to me that’s juvenescent and bone headed. To govern is hardly the same as that threadbare shibboleth of move fast and break things.
Thanks for your elucidation on how negotiations really work-I had no clue, obviously…
I have always contended that tariffs are a way to get “behavior modification”. We need to get people off the cheap goods from our adversaries and on to the moderately priced US and friends of the US goods instead. Bring critical infrastructure home or in our sphere of influence ASAP!
Unfortunately, it's not always that easy. I have some items produced in China that would be vert cost prohibitive here. Like 3-4x the cost prohibitive. China needs to be reined in but they are still a valuable alternative to US manufacturing.
Depending on the product and industry, not all goods from China are in a critical supply chain. I have no knowledge of your product. My background ranges from semiconductors to automotive and medical devices. In my 40 years prior to retirement I was involved in multiple plant closings and off-shoring of manufacturing jobs.
Mine aren't complicated but every US CNC company I contacted was outrageous on their pricing. 100% tariffs would destroy my ability to sell the items I do.
Wishing you the best… hopefully you can find some reliable suppliers soon.
Nice to see Trump at least halfway pause his own stupidity. Now if his "smarter angels" can convince him to go the rest of the way and pause all tariffs on our allies maybe we can start getting somewhat back to normal. The tariffs on China alone will cause enough market disruption. There is no sane economic or strategic reason to drag the EU, Canada and Mexico down at the same time.
Why not negotiate their end to their higher tariffs on U.S. goods? The whole idea is to remove their unfair trade practices. Negotiating bilateral agreements will be forthcoming. The end result: more free trade. All good for Main Street.
If this is about promoting more manufacturing in this country, I think you meant "less" free trade. Trade barriers on our part are the only way we are going to be able to overcome the lower wages that companies are able to pay overseas.
During the Reagan administration, Reagan got the Japanese automative makers to a "hard number " auto that they could import. As a result, Japanese automative makers-built production and part plants in the US. I do not think that this tacit could work in this case for China.
No EU country imposes an across-the-board tariff of 10% on all goods imported from the USA. Not even close.
what about the VAT? Different name, same end result. Would it make you feel better if he called it a tax?
VATs are a sales tax applied to all goods sold regardless of where they are produced. Therefore, they create no advantage for domestically produced products over imported products as do tariffs. Didn’t they teach that in AP economics?
My understanding was it applies for purchases between countries? So if someone purchases something within their country it doesn't apply.
Not correct. It only applies to purchases made within the country. Visitors can get a refund of VAT taxes while residents cannot. You can Google it for a full explanation.
I, too, am glad the House rejected the Senate's spendthrift budget plan. However, I don't think the American people put Trump in office to completely REORDER our economy with all this tariff back and forth nonsense. I voted for Trump to fix and repair our economy left in taters from the progressive's financial shipwreck and failure. Hopefully Scott Bessent can persuade the President to roll back some of this tariff nonsense.
Trump's tariff "nonsense" is working. Stay tuned. Never underestimate Donald Trump.
What is wrong with our senators, btw?
The big, beautiful bill is dead! My retirement accounts can survive the tariff fallout, but my grandchildren don’t deserve insurmountable debt.
If Europe would do the same regarding China, they would have no choice but to capitulate.
What makes you think the EU will "fall in line"? We have treated our allies worse than we have our adversaries and our policies have been erratic. No one is going to follow this man.
Just wait and see. Patience.
guess we'll see.
But alas, for the EU, the (tariff) beatings will continue until morale improves.
They'll fall in line.