"Reciprocal tariffs"

[Sean Miller Fan]

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/04/trumps-tariff-rates-for-other-countries-larger-than-word-trade-data.html

What I dont understand is why there was a need to trick people into thinking we are just putting matching tariffs on countries who tariffs us. If you want to do tariffs, do it. But they are literally lying about what others are charging us. It's not, we'll Country X charges us 10% so we will charge 10%. They used a mathematical formula based on the trade deficit. And the US is always going to have a large trade deficit with everyone. You know why? We are a huge wealthy nation. Our 330 million people buy more and can afford more than Cambodia's 17 million people. So of course, the trade deficit is massive. Using this formula to justify 49% tariffs on clothes and shoes coming into the US from Cambodia seems like something that would get you an F on a Econ 101 paper. It's just so stupid. Cambodia has an 8% tariff on US exports and if you want to charge them 8% on US imports, ok. But using the trade deficit to justify a 49% tariff is beyond ridiculous.

This is like saying Allegheny County needs to tariff Fayette County more because AC imports way more cheap FC goods than AC exports to FC. The reason for this is because Allegheny County is much larger and wealthier than Fayette County. AC has more "customers." AC would always imports more from FC than they export to FC's small, poorer population. But then to turn around and say that because of this trade deficit, we need to tariff all FC goods coming in, that just means AC customers pay more and for no good reason.

 

[sarahstreet]

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/04/trumps-tariff-rates-for-other-countries-larger-than-word-trade-data.html

What I dont understand is why there was a need to trick people into thinking we are just putting matching tariffs on countries who tariffs us. If you want to do tariffs, do it. But they are literally lying about what others are charging us. It's not, we'll Country X charges us 10% so we will charge 10%. They used a mathematical formula based on the trade deficit. And the US is always going to have a large trade deficit with everyone. You know why? We are a huge wealthy nation. Our 330 million people buy more and can afford more than Cambodia's 17 million people. So of course, the trade deficit is massive. Using this formula to justify 49% tariffs on clothes and shoes coming into the US from Cambodia seems like something that would get you an F on a Econ 101 paper. It's just so stupid. Cambodia has an 8% tariff on US exports and if you want to charge them 8% on US imports, ok. But using the trade deficit to justify a 49% tariff is beyond ridiculous.

This is like saying Allegheny County needs to tariff Fayette County more because AC imports way more cheap FC goods than AC exports to FC. The reason for this is because Allegheny County is much larger and wealthier than Fayette County. AC has more "customers." AC would always imports more from FC than they export to FC's small, poorer population. But then to turn around and say that because of this trade deficit, we need to tariff all FC goods coming in, that just means AC customers pay more and for no good reason.

But now we can punish everyone in the world for charging us $10 for a t-shirt instead of $9. Let’s burn it all down until we can get that $9 t-shirt. MAGA.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

But now we can punish everyone in the world for charging us $10 for a t-shirt instead of $9. Let’s burn it all down until we can get that $9 t-shirt. MAGA.

I dont think this is about the US wanting a $9 shirt from Cambodia instead of a $10 shirt. It's about wanting poor Cambodians to buy more stuff from the US. We want them to buy more Xbox's but they charge an 8% tariff on American imports. This makes Xbox's more expensive in their country than what they normally should be and causes them to buy less. However, it's a smallish and very poor country so the amount of US goods they can buy is very limited. So to use that trade deficit to justify charging a 49% tax on a shirt they sell us is the height of stupidity.

 

[OH Pete]

I dont think this is about the US wanting a $9 shirt from Cambodia instead of a $10 shirt. It's about wanting poor Cambodians to buy more stuff from the US. We want them to buy more Xbox's but they charge an 8% tariff on American imports. This makes Xbox's more expensive in their country than what they normally should be and causes them to buy less. However, it's a smallish and very poor country so the amount of US goods they can buy is very limited. So to use that trade deficit to justify charging a 49% tax on a shirt they sell us is the height of stupidity.

Yep. Strangely regressive that we are punishing countries for not being able to afford or needing US produced goods by preventing them from improving their economies to the point where they can afford or may need US produced goods.

Regardless of the trade imbalance, free trade with Mexico actually increased US exports to Mexico. Yes, we went from a small surplus pre-nafta to a fairly sizeable deficit 20 years later. But in that same time, exports to Mexico went up 93%. Why? Because Mexicans were able to afford to buy US goods. Their economy improved.

The US doesn't (and I'd argue shouldn't) make cheap shit. We make technology related products and heavy equipment. Cambodia makes underpants. They can't sell enough underpants to be able to afford the expensive type of things that the US makes, nor has their society advanced enough to even want or need them. They will never want or need them if we punish them for the current trade imbalance.

 

[Pitt666]

Regardless of politics, the US needs to become independent in food, energy, medicine, and tech. The US needs to make an investment. How it gets to that goal will be political, but I would hope all sides can agree that for America to survive, we need those four areas. It will take years to build the supply chains and a very high cost. Again it will be political as to who pays th3 bill, but it is something that needs to be done.

 

[OH Pete]

Regardless of politics, the US needs to become independent in food, energy, medicine, and tech. The US needs to make an investment. How it gets to that goal will be political, but I would hope all sides can agree that for America to survive, we need those four areas. It will take years to build the supply chains and a very high cost. Again it will be political as to who pays th3 bill, but it is something that needs to be done.

I think that would get bipartisan support. The CHiP's act got a fair amount of bipartisan support. The only reason some republicans voted against it was to prevent Biden from getting a win.

I do think it needs to be done slowly in a more pragmatic way. We didn't get into this problem quickly, we won't get out quickly. And companies aren't going to open up CapEx projects if there is no bipartisan support out of fear of it just going away depending on how each election goes.

 

[WeaverIsComing]

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

And companies aren't going to open up CapEx projects if there is no bipartisan support out of fear of it just going away depending on how each election goes.

This is the problem. No company is going to commit to long-term capital expenditures based on "emergency declaration" tariffs that are extremely likely to go away on Jan 20, 2029 or long before then if Trump changes his mind. There are a few car manufacturers who are shifting some production to the US to avoid tariffs but these are short-term production shifts. No one is actually building new plants. Another reason why this is so stupid. If Congress passes this, then maybe you'd see some new plants built.

 

[HailtoPitt]

I don't know. There seems to have been a sharp decline in manufacturing jobs in the US in just the past 20 years. It's not like those people were all making t-shirt's. The "giant sucking sound" really happened (and only some of that was heard from Pittsburgh media in the Steelers offices.) There seems to be room for certain types of manufacturing to come back to the US. But this doesn't mean we need a large tariff on everyone. Look at Madagascar. Can we even produce vanilla in the US? Seems harsh.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I don't know. There seems to have been a sharp decline in manufacturing jobs in the US in just the past 20 years. It's not like those people were all making t-shirt's. The "giant sucking sound" really happened (and only some of that was heard from Pittsburgh media in the Steelers offices.) There seems to be room for certain types of manufacturing to come back to the US. But this doesn't mean we need a large tariff on everyone. Look at Madagascar. Can we even produce vanilla in the US? Seems harsh.

I agree to a point. But some of these countries, specifically the SE Asia ones just provide too many benefits that we can't reproduce (ie cheap labor). On heavier, more skilled manufacturing, no one is going to move here based on an emergency declaration. Again, the list of car companies that FK lists is just temporarily SHIFTING manufacturing. It will add jobs, but only temporarily.

 

[OH Pete]

I don't know. There seems to have been a sharp decline in manufacturing jobs in the US in just the past 20 years. It's not like those people were all making t-shirt's. The "giant sucking sound" really happened (and only some of that was heard from Pittsburgh media in the Steelers offices.) There seems to be room for certain types of manufacturing to come back to the US. But this doesn't mean we need a large tariff on everyone. Look at Madagascar. Can we even produce vanilla in the US? Seems harsh.

GDP has grown from around $26K per capita pre-NAFTA to around $82K today.

There was a giant sucking sound of low skill labor jobs that were artificially inflating the cost to produce in the US. People pushing buttons with better wages and bennies than many white collar jobs, like teachers. Those jobs were going to go away over time anyway as they are easily automated. There are plenty of good paying jobs available for those that are trained for them. Hard to feel bad for someone losing their job sticking labels on t-shirts for 5x the minimum wage when a little hard work and simple investment in themselves would have prevented it.

 

[HailtoPitt]

GDP has grown from around $26K per capita pre-NAFTA to around $82K today.

There was a giant sucking sound of low skill labor jobs that were artificially inflating the cost to produce in the US. People pushing buttons with better wages and bennies than many white collar jobs, like teachers. Those jobs were going to go away over time anyway as they are easily automated. There are plenty of good paying jobs available for those that are trained for them. Hard to feel bad for someone losing their job sticking labels on t-shirts for 5x the minimum wage when a little hard work and simple investment in themselves would have prevented it.

Meh. I don't know. It's not a bad thing that there are "low skilled" jobs where people make family supporting wages doing honest, but repetitive work for decades.

But, if we are going to replace that part of our economy in exchange for growing wealth, then that increase wealth needs to be shared better by providing Americans with at least health coverage, which would save money anyway.

 

[OH Pete]

But, if we are going to replace that part of our economy in exchange for growing wealth, then that increase wealth needs to be shared better by providing Americans with at least health coverage, which would save money anyway.

Not going to argue about that. The wealth stratification is disgusting. Not sure why so many are ok with it.

 

[NCPitt]

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/04/trumps-tariff-rates-for-other-countries-larger-than-word-trade-data.html

What I dont understand is why there was a need to trick people into thinking we are just putting matching tariffs on countries who tariffs us. If you want to do tariffs, do it. But they are literally lying about what others are charging us. It's not, we'll Country X charges us 10% so we will charge 10%. They used a mathematical formula based on the trade deficit. And the US is always going to have a large trade deficit with everyone. You know why? We are a huge wealthy nation. Our 330 million people buy more and can afford more than Cambodia's 17 million people. So of course, the trade deficit is massive. Using this formula to justify 49% tariffs on clothes and shoes coming into the US from Cambodia seems like something that would get you an F on a Econ 101 paper. It's just so stupid. Cambodia has an 8% tariff on US exports and if you want to charge them 8% on US imports, ok. But using the trade deficit to justify a 49% tariff is beyond ridiculous.

This is like saying Allegheny County needs to tariff Fayette County more because AC imports way more cheap FC goods than AC exports to FC. The reason for this is because Allegheny County is much larger and wealthier than Fayette County. AC has more "customers." AC would always imports more from FC than they export to FC's small, poorer population. But then to turn around and say that because of this trade deficit, we need to tariff all FC goods coming in, that just means AC customers pay more and for no good reason.

This is 100% about China. The tariffs on these small countries were intended to bring them closer to the US and isolate China from them. 170 countries have approached the US since the tariffs were implemented. Meanwhile, China has been exposed as a trade bully and Trump's China-isolationist strategy is working as of now.

 

[HailtoPitt]

Not going to argue about that. The wealth stratification is disgusting. Not sure why so many are ok with it.

Because we are made to fight one another instead of look at the obvious and make life better for everyone, which could easily be done if we weren't so worried about those damn bastards in the other party.

 

[NCPitt]

Not going to argue about that. The wealth stratification is disgusting. Not sure why so many are ok with it.

How does it hurt you?

 

[jtownknowitall]

How does it hurt you?

Go count your wife’s money.

 

[NCPitt]

Go count your wife’s money.

Quicken does that for me.

 

[BPKY]

Meh. I don't know. It's not a bad thing that there are "low skilled" jobs where people make family supporting wages doing honest, but repetitive work for decades.

But, if we are going to replace that part of our economy in exchange for growing wealth, then that increase wealth needs to be shared better by providing Americans with at least health coverage, which would save money anyway.

Shared.....🤔

 

[BPKY]

Quicken does that for me.

I'm going to create an App that can pray for him

Just to free up some of your time each day

 

[NCPitt]

I'm going to create an App that can pray for him

Just to free up some of your time each day

I had 17 alerts when I got on today. I think about 15 of them were his laughing emoji. He's harmless.

 

[BPKY]

Because we are made to fight one another instead of look at the obvious and make life better for everyone, which could easily be done if we weren't so worried about those damn bastards in the other party.

Why should I try to figure out how the system might need to be redesigned when it take so much less effort to just blame someone for my situation?

 

[pittbb80]

Not going to argue about that. The wealth stratification is disgusting. Not sure why so many are ok with it.

Well according to smf they are all dumb uneducated hillbilly rubes so who cares.

 

[HailtoPitt]

Shared.....🤔

Yes. Shared.

 

[HailtoPitt]

Why should I try to figure out how the system might need to be redesigned when it take so much less effort to just blame someone for my situation?

Part of the system seems to be built to use blame. That's how people run away with all the money while we are all arguing!

Nancy Pelosi and her husband are fine with Dems hating on Trump. They've been making bank while we are angry.

 

[BPKY]

Part of the system seems to be built to use blame. That's how people run away with all the money while we are all arguing!

Nancy Pelosi and her husband are fine with Dems hating on Trump. They've been making bank while we are angry.

So you're saying there are individuals who cooperated to design an eco-political system which enables them to steal our money while dividing the voting populace as a diversion to their tactics?

If only we knew who is doing that and how. 🙆

 

[BPKY]

Yes. Shared.

So, why don't ditch diggers and burger flippers just study hard and then take the good jobs so that they can be a "sharer" rather than a "sharee"?

 

[Dointhatrag]

These tariffs are a sales tax on foreign goods. You don't HAVE to have any of these items if you can't afford them. They aren't necessities. You can have a great life without them or choose to pay the tax for them. I much rather prefer the tax on consumption versus earnings.

Trump knows he has one term so he isn't worried about getting re-elected. He is driving 100% to make changes he believes in to correct many years and decades of inept politicians trying to stay in Washington, placate small interest groups, or to pad their bank accounts.

The MSM and dems make every effort to gaslight the public on every topic. They cannot bring themselves to admit one good action Trump is taking. Trump isn't trying to make money, he isn't trying to become king. He is literally trying to bring jobs back to the country to create greater wealth and taxable revenue, reduce wasteful spending and make the country financially healthy and secure the boarder which has led to a plethora of issues.

It will be painful short term and the swamp is panicked that they are losing their stranglehold on the purse strings of the country.

 

[joeydavid]

I don't know. There seems to have been a sharp decline in manufacturing jobs in the US in just the past 20 years. It's not like those people were all making t-shirt's. The "giant sucking sound" really happened (and only some of that was heard from Pittsburgh media in the Steelers offices.) There seems to be room for certain types of manufacturing to come back to the US. But this doesn't mean we need a large tariff on everyone. Look at Madagascar. Can we even produce vanilla in the US? Seems harsh.

We have a trade surplus with Australia and a trade agreement with them.

That doesn't matter to the first felon, dotard donny.

 

[joeydavid]

This is 100% about China. The tariffs on these small countries were intended to bring them closer to the US and isolate China from them. 170 countries have approached the US since the tariffs were implemented. Meanwhile, China has been exposed as a trade bully and Trump's China-isolationist strategy is working as of now.

You are very close to understanding the outcome of this nonsense... if you just swap China and U.S. in a few spots.

This is 100% about China. The tariffs on these small countries were intended to bring them closer to China and isolate the U.S. from them. Meanwhile, the U.S. has been exposed as a trade bully and Trump's U.S.-isolationist strategy is working if you shorted the market back in January.

 

[NCPitt]

You are very close to understanding the outcome of this nonsense... if you just swap China and U.S. in a few spots.

This is 100% about China. The tariffs on these small countries were intended to bring them closer to China and isolate the U.S. from them. Meanwhile, the U.S. has been exposed as a trade bully and Trump's U.S.-isolationist strategy is working if you shorted the market back in January.

Except that none of what you said is happening.

Moron.

 

[NCPitt]

These tariffs are a sales tax on foreign goods. You don't HAVE to have any of these items if you can't afford them. They aren't necessities. You can have a great life without them or choose to pay the tax for them. I much rather prefer the tax on consumption versus earnings.

That's what morons like joey don't seem to get. He claims I voted to tax myself. But I have options to pay the tax. It isn't even a matter of affordability. People can choose to substitute American products for tariffed products at any time. I will be able to afford avocados but I can happily substitute salsa.

 

[caleco's]

You are very close to understanding the outcome of this nonsense... if you just swap China and U.S. in a few spots.

This is 100% about China. The tariffs on these small countries were intended to bring them closer to China and isolate the U.S. from them. Meanwhile, the U.S. has been exposed as a trade bully and Trump's U.S.-isolationist strategy is working if you shorted the market back in January.

you are completely clueless
why do you root against the country so much?

 

[pittguy81]

These tariffs are a sales tax on foreign goods. You don't HAVE to have any of these items if you can't afford them. They aren't necessities. You can have a great life without them or choose to pay the tax for them. I much rather prefer the tax on consumption versus earnings.

Trump knows he has one term so he isn't worried about getting re-elected. He is driving 100% to make changes he believes in to correct many years and decades of inept politicians trying to stay in Washington, placate small interest groups, or to pad their bank accounts.

The MSM and dems make every effort to gaslight the public on every topic. They cannot bring themselves to admit one good action Trump is taking. Trump isn't trying to make money, he isn't trying to become king. He is literally trying to bring jobs back to the country to create greater wealth and taxable revenue, reduce wasteful spending and make the country financially healthy and secure the boarder which has led to a plethora of issues.

It will be painful short term and the swamp is panicked that they are losing their stranglehold on the purse strings of the country.

Given the nature of supply chains in today's world, much of the increased costs will come from foreign OEM component parts being utilized in a product build. Trump is a self serving prick and always has been. There is not one altruistic fiber in his body. He and his handlers are implementing Project 2025 right in front of you face, working toward the end goal of a Unitary Executive or a Red Caesar

 

[sarahstreet]

Given the nature of supply chains in today's world, much of the increased costs will come from foreign OEM component parts being utilized in a product build. Trump is a self serving prick and always has been. There is not one altruistic fiber in his body. He and his handlers are implementing Project 2025 right in front of you face, working toward the end goal of a Unitary Executive or a Red Caesar

Just as the founding fathers planned.

 

[HailtoPitt]

So, why don't ditch diggers and burger flippers just study hard and then take the good jobs so that they can be a "sharer" rather than a "sharee"?

What's wrong with those jobs?

 

[BPKY]

What's wrong with those jobs?

Because we are made to fight one another instead of look at the obvious and make life better for everyone, which could easily be done if we weren't so worried about those damn bastards in the other party.

They don't pay well and these workers are then asking for others to subsidize them. So, how does your system of "sharing" not just perpetuate further conflict between the haves and have-nots?

The system continues to let some prosper and tax them at a higher rate. Same problem we have now, no?

 

[NCPitt]

Given the nature of supply chains in today's world, much of the increased costs will come from foreign OEM component parts being utilized in a product build. Trump is a self serving prick and always has been. There is not one altruistic fiber in his body. He and his handlers are implementing Project 2025 right in front of you face, working toward the end goal of a Unitary Executive or a Red Caesar

Do you know what a Unitary Executive is?

 

[NCPitt]

Just as the founding fathers planned.

Actually, it is.

 

[caleco's]

Do you know what a Unitary Executive is?

He learned that watching Maddow the other night. Then his wife pegged him before bed