Trade Wars and Tariffs

[n_huffhines]

The current system hasn’t been the best arrangement for the long term interests of the US. The problem is we cannot just start manufacturing again overnight. It will take generations to get back the talent to do it right in the US.

However, any one who is under the impression this is the US being unreasonable is not tuned into reality. Work for a truly global industrial and you’ll see first hand the expense incurred and the hoops that must be jumped through to minimize the onerous tariff and tax impacts of other countries.

Next time you’re in Europe look around and try to find an American car dealership. There’s a reason they’ll be very very hard to find.

The US should be happy to enter into a truly free trade agreement with other countries. Don’t tariff us and we won’t tariff you.

Outside of oil and gas, we run a $30B trade surplus with Canada. What about the arrangement makes you think we are getting boned?

Do you have specific examples of how we're treated especially unfairly by the world?

Of course there are going to be countries that try to abuse trade relationships. Arguably, that's us right now. LOL. But the best policy is to remove all tariffs, regardless. That immediately helps domestic manufacturing by lowering the price of input goods. Other countries can make their prices artificially high and suffocate themselves. We should just focus on our own prosperity and not what others are doing. We can reduce red tape, streamline government/business interactions, make regulation more efficient (you know, all the stuff DOGE was going to do when Vivek was gonna be involved), etc. and get more manufacturing to return to the United States without jeopardizing the whole economy and many of our foreign relationships.

 

[volbound1700]

Outside of oil and gas, we run a $30B trade surplus with Canada. What about the arrangement makes you think we are getting boned?

Do you have specific examples of how we're treated especially unfairly by the world?

Of course there are going to be countries that try to abuse trade relationships. Arguably, that's us right now. LOL. But the best policy is to remove all tariffs, regardless. That immediately helps domestic manufacturing by lowering the price of input goods. Other countries can make their prices artificially high and suffocate themselves. We should just focus on our own prosperity and not what others are doing. We can reduce red tape, streamline government/business interactions, make regulation more efficient (you know, all the stuff DOGE was going to do when Vivek was gonna be involved), etc. and get more manufacturing to return to the United States without jeopardizing the whole economy and many of our foreign relationships.

China broke that system. When they can pay people $ 5 per hour, steal IP, and have their companies bailed out by the Government, it is no longer a fair system.

 

[Orange_Crush]

 

[volbound1700]

Work is getting interesting for me because of this...

 

[Velo Vol]

Of course there are going to be countries that try to abuse trade relationships. Arguably, that's us right now. LOL.

Is it really debatable?

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

China broke that system. When they can pay people $ 5 per hour, steal IP, and have their companies bailed out by the Government, it is no longer a fair system.

And China has dodged US tariffs by manufacturing in Mexico to exploit USMCA.

Tariffs are simply something in the toolbox to end the bad behavior. Wealthy countries have no business being on the US taxpayer’s t*t.

 

[volbound1700]

And China has dodged US tariffs by manufacturing in Mexico to exploit NAFTA.

Tariffs are simply something in the toolbox to end the bad behavior. Wealthy countries have no business being on the US taxpayer’s t*t.

Mexico isn't the same from my experience. Mexico is more expensive than people think. The labor is lower but transportation and utilities are a lot higher in Mexico. The Chinese companies that I work with have to charge higher price for Mexico vs. China.

China was the perfect storm in that they had a great infrastructure and heavy governmental support to match their low labor.

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

Do tell how. You're looking for a manufacturing job that pays $15/hr?

Back in the day, the Republican party believed in free trade. Guess who hijacked the party. And you bought into it.

You broke it, you bought it.

Enjoy your $200 Nikes.

Trump is a moron.

I don't buy name brand because I don't support most of their politics. Nike especially. I am unfortunately going to be retired in a few months, but I will probably still work until my wife reaches Medicare age in 2 years. You know that ObamaCare **** is pretty expensive. Nothing "affordable" about the ACA.

I am happy with the leadership. The pain will be temporary and I ma buying the opportunities. You can do what you leftists always do, sit on your sidewalk and cry while the rest of us go to work. I have everything I need.

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

You are like the Democrats you hate.

Some of yall voted for it and you are about to reap the whirlwind.

LOL Ok Clarissa.

I am fine with a little short term pain. Not a problem. It will make the country stronger to downsize the obese elephant in DC. When the Department of Education is dead, it will be a great day and that's just the beginning.

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

Canada had tariffs on US products before Trump entered office. Those would be eliminated.

He's having trouble breathing he's so angry. You can see it in his posts.

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

Where did you ever get that I’m a mechanic?

I’m not worried about my 401k. I’m not retiring anytime soon.

Im not worried about mine and I am retiring soon.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Mexico isn't the same from my experience. Mexico is more expensive than people think. The labor is lower but transportation and utilities are a lot higher in Mexico. The Chinese companies that I work with have to charge higher price for Mexico vs. China.

China was the perfect storm in that they had a great infrastructure and heavy governmental support to match their low labor.

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[Thunder Good-Oil]

It's been a long time since we've had this conversation, it's probably useful to revisit. I feel like I talked about it ad nauseam when Trump was running in 2016.

A trade deficit is indeed a complicated issue. It's not even necessarily an issue. "Deficit" makes us think it's inherently bad, but it's not. An equally accurate way of describing the trade situation is calling it a "capital surplus." A trade deficit with China looks like this:

- We get goods from China
- China gets our fiat money
- One way or another, those trade deficit dollars eventually find their way back to the United States. Either vicariously through China's trade partners, or typically through Chinese investment in the American economy.

Trade deficit = Capital surplus

And the additional benefit of operating this way is we continue to secure our position as a global trade currency.

So China isn’t using any of that capital to beef up their military? And buying up US farm land is a form of those dollars finding their way back to the US. I have reservations about the CCP being a player in our food chain.

 

[Velo Vol]

Correct. Democrats running in 2026 just received a several point bump in their poll numbers.

 

[volbound1700]

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I don't doubt they are trying and succeeding to some degree but I am stating that Mexico isn't China from trade aspect based on my experience in my industry.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I don't doubt they are trying and succeeding to some degree but I am stating that Mexico isn't China from trade aspect based on my experience in my industry.

Just an example of a trading “partner” (China) cheating while another one (Mexico) is enabling it.

Everybody is looking out for their own interests. Why shouldn’t we as well? We have leverage and it’s bad policy to not use it when we’re getting screwed.

 

[volbound1700]

Just an example of a trading “partner” (China) cheating while another one (Mexico) is enabling it.

Everybody is looking out for their own interests. Why shouldn’t we as well? We have leverage and it’s bad policy to not use it when we’re getting screwed.

We aren't the only ones. My company is global and plants are being shut in Europe and Latin America because their products can't compete against low cost Chinese products. Not just with our company but all of our competitors in the area as well (basically all the mainstream companies in the industry).

 

[evillawyer]

LMAO. A Confederacy of Dunces. That's what they think you are. And honestly, they're probably right.

 

[Vol423]

Correct. Democrats running in 2026 just received a several point bump in their poll numbers.

Lol. They’re going to need to do MUCH better than a bump of a few points. Even Democrats don’t like the Democratic Party.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

We aren't the only ones. My company is global and plants are being shut in Europe and Latin America because their products can't compete against low cost Chinese products. Not just with our company but all of our competitors in the area as well (basically all the mainstream companies in the industry).

All the more reason that those countries shouldn’t be selling out to China and instead ought to be getting on board with the US’s fair trade philosophy.

 

[volbound1700]

LMAO. A Confederacy of Dunces. That's what they think you are. And honestly, they're probably right.

Everyone knows that Argentina has the best beef.

European beef does suck and there isn't a lot of it.

USA, Argentina, Brazil, and even Korean beef are all better.

 

[volbound1700]

All the more reason that those countries shouldn’t be selling out to China and instead ought to be getting on board with the US’s fair trade philosophy.

Agree... I tell my European Colleagues that they desperately need an EU tariff on China.

Brazil has massive tariffs on everyone but it hasn't helped them because they still can't develop their own manufacturing for some reason... Brazil is an interesting case study in history as they should be a major economic power but they are so broken/corrupt that they can't get out of their own way.

 

[Vol423]

Everyone knows that Argentina has the best beef.

European beef does suck and there isn't a lot of it.

USA, Argentina, Brazil, and even Korean beef are all better.

Having been to Argentina a number of times, I will say that their beef is really good. It is way better than European beef, but it isn’t as good as the USA’s beef.

 

[n_huffhines]

Correct. Democrats running in 2026 just received a several point bump in their poll numbers.

It really sucks that Dems are gonna win simply by not being Republicans and not bc they actually fixed anything about their stupid party. Continuous race to the bottom

 

[McDad]

It really sucks that Dems are gonna win simply by not being Republicans and not bc they actually fixed anything about their stupid party. Continuous race to the bottom

R or D. Different sides of the same coin.
Nothing is getting fixed because problems create campaign promises.