Tariffs will be Trump's downfall:

[Brian4Liberty]

It is interesting the amount of hand-wringing, pearl clutching and panty bunching going among the usual mainstream, DNC media and politicians.

All of a sudden they are terribly concerned about inflation, and finally found a tax they don't like. Amazing.

 

[WarriorLiberty]

Ok, so this is just a negotiation tactic???

Trump pauses Mexico tariffs for a month

https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/03/world/sheinbaum-trump-tariffs-paused/index.html

Trump is backing down.

 

[spudea]

Trump is backing down.

How is Trump getting everything he wanted "backing down". Tariffs are a negotiating tool and Trump is a deal maker. If they fail to uphold their end, tariffs can still move forward.

 

[CaptUSA]

And now he's backed off the Canada tariffs, too.

China will be by the end of the week.


Why does Trump hate the American industries he wanted to protect?? Why doesn't he want all that tariff money that was going to replace taxes???

 

[Occam's Banana]

Tariffs will be Trump's downfall

Apparently not:

Trump pauses Mexico tariffs for a month

And now he's backed off the Canada tariffs, too.

Trump is backing down.

Only if you count "getting what he wanted" as "backing down".

He evidently didn't really want these tariffs - and he knew Canada and Mexico didn't want them, either.

They blinked first and caved.

(That seems more like "winning" than "backing down" - but maybe that's just me.)

 

[otherone]

Apparently not:

​

Only if you count "getting what he wanted" as "backing down".

He evidently didn't really want these tariffs - and he knew Canada and Mexico didn't want them, either.

They blinked first ...

China before the end of the week.

 

[Occam's Banana]

China before the end of the week.

I wonder if they'll blink first, too ...

 

[otherone]

I wonder if they'll blink first, too ...

I stand by my bold assertion.

https://dailycaller.com/2025/02/03/...ped-and-beijing-already-wants-to-make-a-deal/

 

[Occam's Banana]

I stand by my bold assertion.

https://dailycaller.com/2025/02/03/...ped-and-beijing-already-wants-to-make-a-deal/

#Scrutable

#Winning

(Interesting - the China tariffs are 10%, in contrast to the 25% for Canada and Mexico. I guess Trump doesn't think China is such an easy push-over. He's probably right.)

 

[otherone]

I wonder if they'll blink first, too ...

Trump: "deregulate"
Trump: "drill"
Saudis: "invest 600 billion in US"
US manufacturing: https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2...ands-for-first-time-in-26-months-survey-says/

Trust me. China will blink.

 

[oyarde]

He wants the government income. I heard him last night. This is a money grab, and shoppers are going to pay, just another tax.

If it was really about trade imbalances, all you have to do is enforce import quotas. But import quotas don't net tax revenue.

Interesting , tariff after quota is exceeded .Could be an option on some items

 

[CaptUSA]

Can Trump Tariffs Lead To Trouble?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LURyPTUh200

President Trump made it clear during his presidential campaign that tariffs will be a part of his policy-making. He has followed through on that. Tariffs are risk. Yes, they can be used as a political tool, and can get results. But tariffs can also turn very bad, especially when egos are revved up. American history is littered with the use of tariffs going very bad. President Trump should always keep this in mind.

 

[WarriorLiberty]

Apparently not:

​

Only if you count "getting what he wanted" as "backing down".

He evidently didn't really want these tariffs - and he knew Canada and Mexico didn't want them, either.

They blinked first and caved.

(That seems more like "winning" than "backing down" - but maybe that's just me.)

Well if you cosnider the flip flop on giving Ukraine aid recently that Trump did.
Trump stated that he will give Ukraine aid as long as Ukraine provides Rare Earth minerals.

 

[Occam's Banana]

Well if you cosnider the flip flop on giving Ukraine aid recently that Trump did.
Trump stated that he will give Ukraine aid as long as Ukraine provides Rare Earth minerals.

Why should I consider that?

It has nothing to do with either the thread topic or your previous post.

 

[Occam's Banana]

Can Trump Tariffs Lead To Trouble?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LURyPTUh200

President Trump made it clear during his presidential campaign that tariffs will be a part of his policy-making. He has followed through on that. Tariffs are risk. Yes, they can be used as a political tool, and can get results. But tariffs can also turn very bad, especially when egos are revved up. American history is littered with the use of tariffs going very bad. President Trump should always keep this in mind.

CLIP:

https://x.com/RonPaul/status/1886470618838716706

​

 

[otherone]

CLIP:

https://x.com/RonPaul/status/1886470618838716706

​

Tariffs are a bargaining tool. The GDP of the US is far above every other country. Mexico and Canada are a joke. China is our nearest competitor but not close. DJT is playing with house money and they all know it. He was a joke his first term but they're listening now. What we are seeing is historic. Or it will crash and burn. Exciting times. The midterms will determine everything.

 

[otherone]

Well if you cosnider the flip flop on giving Ukraine aid recently that Trump did.
Trump stated that he will give Ukraine aid as long as Ukraine provides Rare Earth minerals.

Sigh. Maybe Trump is strong-arming Putin into negotiations?

 

[Occam's Banana]

Tariffs are a bargaining tool. [...]

I agree.

That's why none of these tariff goings-on really bothers me all that much, and at this point, most of the arguments over it are just so much irrelevant & esoteric wheel-spinning. (If nothing else, as a purely practical matter, the implementation of a regime of autarkic tariffs and/or draconian trade bans simply isn't going to happen - and if by some chance it did, it would be reversed toot sweet as the inevitable damage and impoverishment caused by it began to manifest.)

 

[nobody's_hero]

The thing is, these other countries know what the RPF free traders absolutely refuse to admit:

The trade war has been going on for a looooonnnnng time. It's just been one-sided.

We've been stuck in a ring with the rest of the world throwing punches at us, and Trump just slid the USA a pair of boxing gloves between the ropes. Now, when America starts swinging, you can bet your sweet a** that everyone's gonna point their fingers and start screaming that we started it. But, they know that's not the case, and they can't really beat down on us too much harder than they already have been.

So . . . their only choice is to back off.

 

[TheTexan]

Of course, it can't be all 3. If you're protecting American industries by raising the prices on foreign goods, then you don't get the money you wanted in #1. If you really want money going to the government, then you still want Americans to buy those goods, therefore you're not protecting any American industries in #2. So, it's #3?? You're punishing your trading partners and your own citizens because the governments of our trading partners aren't doing what he wants??

It can be all 3. As long as tax revenue is a bonus, rather than the primary intention, it resolves your supposed contradictions.

Which is one of the reasons why I'm in favor of trade bans vs tariffs. It removes any confusion on priorities. If tariffs become primarily a tax generation tool, there is a very high risk of them becoming ineffective at their intended goals of protecting industry.